National schools’ c/ships open today in Linden

Nov 18, 2008 Sports

–16 districts compete for top honours

By Edison Jefford
The teams have arrived, the venues are prepared and over $35M was expended to ensure the Annual National Schools’ Track and Field, Cycling and Swimming Championships gets the pole position it deserves today.

Athletes from 16 districts that stretch across the 10 administrative regions of Guyana will begin their quest for superiority when the 48th edition of the Ministry of Education and Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) event commences.

The Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) in the bauxite mining town of Linden was chosen as the host venue this year and history will show that from 1992 to 2007, Upper Demerara and Kwakwani (the 2008 host) have won eight times.

That is not enough to say that Upper Demerara never really loses at home but their most significant rival and defending champions, North Georgetown will be keen to prevent history from repeating itself this week.

The last time North Georgetown won in Linden was in 1981 but the strength of their team owing to good preparations this year could change that result. But there are other threats beside North Georgetown and Linden.

The teams from the hinterland regions are normally solid in the distance races and the important swimming championships. But in recent years, Georgetown teams have added swimming to their cycling dominance.

Upper Demerara has mastered the art of participation, which keeps them in the running for points; the yellow and black coloured team ensures that they have an athlete to give them at least one point from every event.

The official opening ceremony of the championships is scheduled for 6pm today but the first events (the 40km, 25km cycling road races and 10km, 5 km road runs) for males and females respectively, will be staged this morning.

Following those early morning events, the swimming championships get underway at the renovated MSC pool. The hope is that this section of the competition will be completed for presentations at the opening ceremony.

The 5000 and 3000m open cycle track races for boys and girls respectively, the male and female open 4x400m relay heats and the 4x100m teachers open relay heats will conclude day one after the official 2008 launch.

President Bharrat Jagdeo, GTU President, Colwyn King, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony among other officials are expected to speak at the opening of the event this evening at the renowned MSC.

Latest News