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Guyana finish second overall at IGG 2011
By Edison Jefford
Guyana finished second overall in the just-concluded multi-sport discipline Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) in Suriname with cycling and track and field headlining the list of events that the country dominated during the October 19-24 competition.
Guyana ended with 80 points, amassed from its placing in the seven sport disciplines, while host, Suriname won overall with 107 points. French Guiana was third with 66 points. The competition concluded Sunday night with its prize-giving ceremony.
In his closing remarks before senior government, and sports, officials from the three participating countries, Director of Sport, Neil Kumar, warned the opposition of a future threat from a Guyana national sport contingent at the tri-nation Games.
“I want to congratulate Suriname for hosting such a mega event in a global financial crisis, but it should also be noted that Guyana will be aiming to have the overall championships trophy when we compete at this event again,” Kumar said.
Suriname’s leading junior sprinter, Danille Clark (centre), congratulates one of the Coaches of Guyana’s junior track and field team, Julian Edmonds at the Prize Ceremony Sunday night after Guyana recaptured the title in Suriname.
Suriname’s Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Paul Abena, also applauded his Department of Sport and Youth Affairs, which was responsible for managing the competition. He congratulated Suriname for winning the Games and the other countries for participating.
“We’ve organised these games under very difficult circumstances, but thanks to the will and the determination we were able to come out successful. We want our neighbours to know that we’re very serious about strengthening our relationships,” Abena related.
Guyana won the cycling and track and field championships after dominant performances from all the respective athletes. The country was second in male volleyball, but lost the female aspect; the male and female basketball; male football and the chess competitions.
Swimming
Britany Van Lange led the young swim team with two gold medals in the 100m and 200m freestyle races while Ronaldo Rodrigues won silver in 100m breaststroke and 200m Individual Medley. Soroya Simmons won a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke; Athena Gaskin bronze in the 200m freestyle and Onika George bronze in the 400m freestyle relay.
The total medal haul comprised two gold medals, one silver medal and fifteen bronze medals in a combination of the individual performances and relays. Team Manager, Jeremy Simmons said he is “pleased” with the performances of the young swimmers.
“Guyana’s contingent comprised twelve swimmers, which included three of our youngest swimmers making their first appearance at the IGG Games; Accalia Khan, Jamila Sanmoogan and Hannibal Gaskin. Accalia achieved improved timings in the 200m individual medley and the 100m butterfly while Hannibal improved his time in the 200m freestyle,” Simmons summarised.
“Both Jaime and Joseph delivered valiant efforts in spite of injuries sustained while swimming at the Games; while Britany overcame the fatigue of travelling from the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico to join her team-mates on Day Two of the swim meet to deliver sterling performances,” he continued.
Simmons said that the entire team overcame training challenges and limited swimming hours in Guyana before departure. In his comment, Simmons said that those factors need to be non-issues if Guyana is to achieve top performances at the Games.
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