Latest update November 5th, 2024 1:00 AM
Plans afoot to seriously help Wilson
Colin Boyce
Doretta Wilson
By Edison Jefford
Two of the major custodians of sport in Guyana have had preliminary discussions on some ways that they can seriously help distance athlete, Doretta Wilson, following revelations of her evident struggles to pursue her athletic talent in a meaningful manner.
Kaieteur Sport had reported earlier this week on the unimaginable journeys of the athlete from an Achawuib community in the Deep South of the Rupununi to Georgetown; Wilson travelled eight hours on a dirt-bike from Achawuib to Lethem then another one and half hour to Georgetown via air to compete at the National Cross Country Race last Sunday.
The issues raised serious concerns about the future of the promising athlete that engaged both the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) and Director of Sport, Neil Kumar, who were both at one of the Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) meetings this past Wednesday.
This newspaper understands that the two major stakeholders discussed, as an aside, ways that the athlete can be assisted to further her career. Besides the remote location of Wilson’s village other impediments to her budding talent includes an obvious lack of essential training and competition apparel including footwear and an unstable nutritional tradition.
Those adverse elements for an athlete piled up on Wilson after her arrival at the Ogle Airport last Saturday and placed her participation in the race in doubt. Her physiotherapist, Dr. Jason Johnny was forced to work overtime to put her back in shape for the event.
“We had a meeting with (President of the AAG, Colin) Boyce and I told him to let’s see how we can help (Wilson). I told him that I am willing to help,” Kumar said yesterday when contacted on his input to the athlete’s situation. He added that Wilson has generated a lot of attention and they are “willing” to support the athlete so that she can reach her full potential.
“The AAG will be looking at her because remember she is also an IGG candidate and we cannot take that lightly. I want to assure you that I’m serious about Wilson she’s a good athlete,” Kumar indicated. The Director of Sport informed that he has no problem rallying corporate support as is required to help the athlete acquire all the necessary apparel.
Neil Kumar
Kaieteur Sport knows of one corporate entity, which will remain anonymous, that has expressed an interest in helping the athlete who rose to prominence after she defeated Guyana’s CARIFTA double gold medallist, Jevina Straker, twice at the Schools’ Championships.
Supporting the plans that are currently underway to seriously help the athlete is the efforts of the Rupununi Athletics and Sports Academy that has already made arrangements to have Wilson in the more centralised Lethem. Her Coach, Brian Rodrigues told this newspaper yesterday that he has contacted her family, who has consented to have her remain in Lethem.
Rodrigues said that his programme for the athlete would be easier to implement with her there in Lethem. Wilson and Alika Morgan are the only two females named on Guyana’s team expected to compete at the North America, Central American and the Caribbean (NACAC) Cross Country Race in Trinidad next month. From all indications, the exposure will be one of many to come as Guyana searches for its next leading female distance runner.
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