A hero’s welcome is what team Guyana came home to on Friday after competing in the CARIFTA Games 2017 in Curacao.
The team were greeted by a high profile contingent including Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) President, Aubrey Hutson, Mayfield Trim, Kenisha Headley and Nadine Trotz (Local Coordinating Committee) and a representative of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) upon arrival at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and were taken to the capital city of Georgetown in a motorcade with police escort.
The successful team along with President of the GOA, K.A. Juman-Yassin (extreme right) and President of the AAG Aubrey Hutson (extreme left) at Olympic House on Friday
Along the way, loud music emanated from the huge sound system to create the carnival-like atmosphere for the local heroes.
The champions who wrote their names in the history books was easily the best local team to take part in the Games since its 1972 inception also paid a courtesy call to head of state, President David Granger before heading over to Olympic House, High Street where the hosted a press conference.
Notable presenters at the press conference included Hutson and President of the Guyana Olympic Association, K.A. Juman-Yassin.
Juman-Yassin told the young contingent of athletes that they had done the country well but this is not the end, this is the platform for greater things.
“Do not let this get to your head, you have been successful, the time when it should get to your head is when you get to a higher level, when you reach to the Olympics and when you get that medal around your neck,” Yassin said.
The GOA boss went on to say this is the stepping stone for you to be able to climb that ladder, “this is your object and dream,” while recommitting the GOA’s support to the AAG.
Meanwhile, Hutson commended the efforts off all the athletes as well as the management staff who toured to the Dutch speaking island. He also acknowledged the fact that this came on the backs of hard work and dedication, something that the AAG is looking to further facilitate on their way to winning Guyana’s gold medal at the Olympics one day.
In Curacao where the games were hosted, Linden’s Compton Caesar, who clocked 10.46 seconds, to stun Barbados’ Jaquone Hoyte (10.47) and Jamaica’s Jelani Walker (10.61 seconds) handed Guyana its first gold, marking the first time a Guyanese won the 100m sprint.
Natricia Hooper also copped gold, winning the Girls’ U-18 triple jump with a leap of 13.08 metres while Claudrice McKoy took a bronze medal in the Girls’ Under-18 1500m (4:50.88), but, the diminutive athlete returned to win the U-18 3000m with a time of ten minutes 39.03 seconds (10:39.03).
Anfernee Headecker had a spirited run against a strong field in the Boys’ U-20 1500m but finished second with a time of three minutes 58.22 seconds (3:58.22). Chantoba Bright, competing in the long jump, leaped a distance of 5.91 metres to win the event but won bronze in the Girls’ U-18 triple jump, covering a distance of 12.35m.
