Facts about the AAG performance in 2008

Jan 07, 2009 Sports

– Forde, Morgan is ‘Athletes of the Year’

By Edison Jefford
Before a critique on the Athletics Association of Guyana’s (AAG) performance is written it is important to observe the facts about what the association actually accomplished in the past year, lest misinformation become a mistake.

Cleveland Forde

With the help of an anonymous AAG official, Kaieteur Sport presents the facts about the association’s performance in 2008, which range from competitions to training, for public opinion and consumption on the same level.

Alika Morgan

Alicia Fortune and Alika Morgan got the association off to a desired start after handing it three national sports awards compliments of the National Sports Commission in the Sportswoman and Runner–up Sportswoman categories.

Guyana’s Representation at International Competitions
Marian Burnette and Deon Bascom represented Guyana at World Indoor Championships, March 7–9, 2008 in Valencia, Spain; Bascom, Lee Prowell and Jeremy Bascom went to the CAC Senior Championships in Columbia.

Morgan, Ricardo Martin and Timothy Doris represented Guyana at the Carifta Games, March 22–24, 2008 in Saint Kitts and Nevis, while Martin and Janella Jonas took part in the South American Youth Championships in Peru.

Cleveland Forde participated at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Cross Country in Great Britain while Oslyn Collins competed at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Poland.

Morgan and Kelvin Johnson represented Guyana at Caricom 10km Road Race, while the same duo along with Forde, Lionel D’Andrade and Ashanti Scott went to the IAAF South American 10km Road Race in Suriname.
Aliann Pompey, Marian Burnette and Adam Harris comprised Guyana’s Track and Field team to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Morgan, Johnson, D’Andrade, Scott and Forde also took part in the Srefidensi Marathon in Suriname while Forde competed at the IAAF/CAIXA World Half Marathon in Rio de Janerio, Brazil in mid October, 2008.

In addition, the AAG was represented at International Congresses and Meetings such as the South American Ordinary Congress in Belem, Brazil; the CACAC Congress in Cali, Colombia and a Convocation Meeting in Brazil.

Training and Awards
Mark Scott was sent to the IAAF Level I Lecturers’ Course in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Pamela Phillips took part in the Athletics Development Strategy Seminar in Santa Fe, Argentina last year.

Locally, a Sports Massage Workshop was held along with the IAAF TOECS Level I Course. The association sent representatives to a Sport and the Environment Seminar and a Sports Administrators’ Course.

The association, in collaboration with the German Government and Guyana Olympic Association, conducted the “Kids Athletics” Seminar for Teachers in Primary Schools in Georgetown and New Amsterdam; German Sports Scientist, Uwe Wenzel conducted both workshops.

General Secretary of CONSUDTLE, Helio Gesta De Melo visited Guyana during the South American 10km Classic as a Technical Delegate. He also paid a courtesy call on Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony.

Based on the performances of local athletes at home and overseas, the AAG Council met and selected Alika Morgan and Cleveland Forde as ‘Athletes of the Year–2008’ after what they called outstanding performances.