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3rd Annual AP Invitational Meet… Guyanese Athletes gain valuable exposure – James did not disappoint good size crowd
Guyana’s Aliyah Abrams won the 400m in a time of 53.31 at Leonora on Saturday. (Sean Devers photo)
Guyana’s Emanuel Archibald (2nd from right) makes sure that he is ahead in the 100m dash. (Sean Devers photo)
By Sean Devers
The rain on Saturday failed to prevent a fair size crowd turning up at the Leonora Stadium in West Coast Demerara to witness the third Annual Aliann Pompey Invitational meet and while USA born Guyanese Commonwealth Gold Medallist Troy Doris, recovering from a leg injury sustained at the Commonwealth Games, had a rare off day, Olympic Gold Medallist Kirani James did not disappoint.
The event was blessed by bright sunshine after it was threatened by adverse Weather conditions, and climaxed under lights with the 25-year-old Grenadian showing why he won Gold in the 2011 World Championships and 2012 Olympics in London with a comfortable 44.99 time win in the Men’s 400m on Saturday.
The win set a new track record but James said he did not execute in the first 200m as he would have wanted to but was satisfied with the race since track was wet and he did not run as fast as he could.
“I actually came to put on a show and run a good time, but the track was wet, so I just had to ensure that I took my time,” James who is recovering for an illness which affects his immune system, informed after the race.
“I’m good with my time today (yesterday) because as I said, the track is wet and I’m now getting back on track. This was my second race in over a year and I’m happy with the progress,” James explained.
After easing to victory, the affable James, who ran the fastest time in 400m ever by a 14-year-old, was willing to take photos with his local fans.
He was just off his personal best in 400m but the only Grenadian Olympic Medallist is the biggest name in Athletics to grace these shores since Jamaican Donald Quarrie ran at Bourda in 1975 after winning the sprint double at the 1971 Commonwealth Games, the 1971 Pan American Games and 1974 Commonwealth Games.
Cheered on by the fans in the stands whose slow hand claps reached a crescendo as Doris sprinted in for his Triple Jumps but his 16.09m was short of his personal best and he had settle for fourth place behind American Donald Scott (17.22), Cristian Napoles of Cuba (16.96) and Miguel Van Assen of Suriname (16,67) in the order.
Emanuel Archibald ran a scorching 10.29 seconds in the men’s 100m sprint, while Trinidadian Kyle Greaux finished second (10.39 seconds) and Yancarlos Martinez of the Dominican Republic (10.43 seconds) placed third.
Guyanese Aliyah Abrams took the 400m in 52.31 while the Jamaican of Dominique Blake (52.88) and Soniqua Walker (53.0) ended second and third.
Among the other Guyanese to win were Quamel Prince (Men’s 800m), Joana Archer (Women’s 800m), Winston Missigher (Men’s 5000m) Leslain Baird (Men’s Javelin).
The meet began with the singing of the National Anthem, while Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibly for Sports Dr George Norton officially declared this year’s Event open after GOA Chairman K. Juman Yassin also said a few words.
The standard was high with close to 15 Countries being represented including the Host Country, Jamaica, Cuba, T&T, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, USA, US Virgin Islands, Canada, St Vincent, Bahamas, Columbia, Nigeria and Suriname.
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