Latest update February 23rd, 2025 6:05 AM
Latest News
- Taxes collected by Bahamas on Guyana’s oil will soon outweigh our total earnings – Chris Ram
- Gov’t ignores concerns, reappoints Director, members of Environmental Assessment Board for 3rd consecutive year
- Pope Francis in critical condition after health deteriorates, Vatican says
- Youths locked out of Wales Community Centre ground after asking Team Mohamed to help fix a section
- BOG warns against use of unregulated pre-paid VISA Cards
International invasion for 10th SA 10km Road Race
By Edison Jefford
The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has said that it expects an international invasion for the 10th Edition of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) South American (SA) 10km Road Race Classic that will be held on Sunday in Georgetown.
The AAG through its President, Colin Boyce and General Secretary Claude Blackmore made the revelation that it expects a plethora of South American and Caribbean athletes to compete for the coveted male and female titles and lucrative cash prizes at the calendar race.
AAG President, Colin Boyce and other AAG Officials pose with some of the athletes who will be competing at the South American 10km Road Race Classic on Sunday.
The prizes include Open Male and Female International: US$1,000, US$600, US$400, US$300 and US$200 for first to fifth places respectively; Juniors: $40,000, $30,000, $20,000, $10,000 for first to fourth; Masters (Women 35 & above) and (Men 40-55): $30,000, $20,000, $10,000 up to third place; Masters (Men 55 & above): $25,000, $15,000 and $5,000.
Blackmore said that the association has received oral confirmation of the participation of athletes from Brazil, Trinidad, Tobago as an independent competitor, Barbados, Grenada and Panama; he noted that other South American countries were also encouraged to compete.
“I am still working on confirming exactly how many international athletes we will have here, but I know that at the SA Congress (in Brazil recently) the South American countries that are closest to Guyana were encouraged to participate in the event,” Blackmore said.
Boyce had introduced Blackmore as the “man on the ground” who is acting as liaison between the AAG and countries interested in participating. Boyce stated that based on information he has received, the local athletes will be heavily challenged during the race.
“Based on all indication, we are expecting a heavy invasion of foreign athletes. Our local athletes will have to up the ante at the race; this will be a very good test for our long distance athletes and measure of how competitive they can be over 10,000m,” Boyce indicated.
He disclosed that Guyana had broken the ice with Panama, being a participant in the third leg of the three-stage race that is usually held there. However, he said he would be disappointed if they do not see it necessary to reciprocate Guyana’s support of their stage.
The second stage is usually held in Suriname, but owed to an internal issue with the Surinamese athletic association and an IAAF ban established as a result, it was revealed that there will be no second stage of the SA 10km Classic in Suriname this year.
The AAG President urged local athletes to assist the association in ensuring that the registration process is smoothly administered by registering early. Boyce stated that the general tendency has been athletes registering at last minute, which, he says, places added pressures on the Secretariat that has to also process the registration of international athletes.
Registration closes on Thursday. Meanwhile, the race coordinator, Mark Scott disclosed that the route has been marked and will be emboldened on Saturday so that it is clear for competitors. He believes that the 10th edition of the race will be one of the best in its history.
The route for this race will be: (Start) Police Sports Club, Eve Leary (one lap around the track) exit eastern gate into Military Road; south along Camp Road; west along Lamaha Street; north along High Street; East along Seawall Road; south along Camp Road; east along Carifesta Avenue into Rupert Craig Highway’s northern carriageway; turn at Conversation Tree then head into Rupert Craig Highway’s southern carriageway into Kitty Public Road; south on Vlissingen Road; west on Thomas Lands; south on Camp Road into Military Road through the eastern gate at Eve Leary to finish on the ground in front of pavilion after completing a lap.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Crowds, chaos and complaints
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- The folly of the cash grant distribution is a textbook case of what happens when a government,... more
CARICOM Nations Should Respond Together To new U.S. Policies
By Sir Ronald Sanders Ambassador to the US and the OAS, Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News-Two Executive Orders issued by U.S.... more
Weekend Cartoon
