Unavailability of venue forces cancellation of AP Invitational

Aliann Pompey, Guyana’s two-time Commonwealth Games 400 metres medallist, has announced the regrettable cancellation of her AP Invitational Track and Field Championships.
The event was originally scheduled for July 22 at the National Track and Field Centre.
However, due to the incomplete state of the country’s only synthetic facility that possesses the necessary certification and accommodation for international events, the decision to cancel was made.
“After careful consideration and exploring alternative options, it has become apparent that the required renovations for the facility will likely extend beyond the rescheduled competition date,” Pompey stated in a press release.
She further explained, “Athletes need a certain level of certainty to plan their competitions as they prepare for the World Championships later this year. Without being able to provide the necessary guarantees, it was concluded that it is in everyone’s best interest to cancel the event.”
While acknowledging the difficulty of the decision, Pompey said efforts were made to minimise the impact and to salvage some aspects of the endeavour.
As an alternative, Pompey emphasised her collaboration with the Ministry of Sport, the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), and the Athletics Association of Guyana to organise a series of clinics and training sessions. These initiatives aim to benefit coaches, administrators, and athletes involved in the sport.
This year would have marked the fifth edition of the AP Invitational and the first since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020.
“The cancellation of the event has been met with disappointment from numerous athletes, particularly those from Guyana who considered this the highlight of their season. With this in mind, we are committed to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure a stronger and better return next year,” Pompey expressed.
In February 2020, the AP Invitational was made part of World Athletics’ structured World Athletics Continental Tour. The establishment of the Continental Tour was aimed at providing more opportunities for competition and earnings to athletes.
During the 2018 AP Invitational, Kirani James, the 2012 Olympic Champion and 2016 Olympic silver medallist, achieved a time of 44.99 seconds, not only winning the AP Invitational 400m event but also setting a new Track Record.
The AP Invitational, which began in 2016, saw 11 overseas athletes qualify and compete at the Olympic Games in Rio.