AAG names IGG Track and Field team

Apr 08, 2009 Sports

– Caesar, Whaul among field athletes

By Edison Jefford

After their rain affected trials on Sunday, the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has identified 28 junior track and field athletes, 14 males and 14 females, to represent Guyana at the upcoming Inter–Guiana Games (IGG).

Lawanda Whaul

Winston Caesar

The team was selected immediately after the trials but protocol did not allow the AAG to disseminate the names of the athletes before yesterday since the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport had to be appropriately informed.

President of the AAG, Colin Boyce told Kaieteur Sport yesterday that Guyana is usually dominant in the track and field events. He said that the strength of the team identified is to help Guyana advance in the point system overall.

“It’s a point system and we want to ensure that our discipline comes out on top. Guyana will dominate both the male and female events,” Boyce said, adding that 18 points are up for grabs in the IGG track and field competition.

The other sport disciplines represented at IGG are football, basketball, volleyball, cycling and swimming. Guyana is expected to host the initial stage that includes track and field, football and swimming during April 24–27.

The athletics competition is set for April 24 and 25 at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary. “We have an entitlement of one additional male and one additional female athlete as the host country,” Boyce informed yesterday.

He pointed out that based on the events that are to be contested, the AAG selection panel had to ensure that the best athletes suited for more than one event was given the distinct opportunity to represent their country at the Games.

Letitia Myles

Dellon DeAbreu

“We had to take into consideration the relay events so we had to kind of perm the team,” the AAG boss said. He was keen to observe that junior sprint sensation, Triston Joseph and distance queen, Alika Morgan will lead the team.

The male team includes: Joseph, Okeni Stewart, Dellon DeAbreu, Valon Adams, Frank Mercurius, Kevin Bailey, Winston Caesar, Michael Bowman, Jamaal Chisholm, Chavez Sital, Obie Hadaway, Hamere Alexander, Marlon Moshet and Ricardo Martin.

The female team reads: Morgan, Roxanna Rigby, Deja Smartt, Shanna Thornhill, Letitia Myles, Javina Straker, Nadine Rodrigues, Jenella Jonas, Teshwanna Doris, Lawanda Whaul, Shinead Emmerson, Lisa Bowman, Natasha Doris and Shebekia Prince.

According to Boyce, the national junior athletes are expected to train as a team from next week at the Police Sports Club Ground. He said they will remain under the tutelage of their respective clubs for the remainder of this week.