AAG Carifta Team returns home

Apr 26, 2019 Sports

The 18-member local contingent and officials pose for photo at the CJIA Timehri on Wednesday evening.

By Calvin Chapman
At this year’s 49th Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) athletics games that were contested in Grand Cayman Islands, the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) fielded their largest contingent in recent times; a total of 21 athletes, and despite infrastructural and financial challenges, the team picked up a record, 10-medals.
Four of the ten medals were Gold, the most Guyana has ever accumulated at a single Carifta Games and it was good enough to see the team finish fourth overall behind winners’ Jamaica, Bahamas (2nd) and Trinidad and Tobago, 3rd.
The team arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Timehri on Wednesday night to a welcoming party that included the media, president of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson, and Director of Sports, Christopher Jones.
Anisha Gibbons of Bygeval Secondary School, who won Gold in her debut at the regional competition in

Anisha Gibbons (right) and her mom Linda Johnny.

the girls’ Under-17 Javelin, spoke briefly with Kaieteur Sport: “I am proud to raise the Golden Arrowhead high and I want to thank my parents and my Coach Raymond Daw for all the hard work he has put in with me.”
Matthew Gordon (3000m U-17 boys’ Gold) entered the 1500m as the favourite but he recounted that he was tripped during the race but he could’ve only come back to finish 5th in that event. However, the Bushlot Secondary (Berbice) student made sure that he came out of the pack in the 3000m to the get the win.
Gordon, who is motivated by the support of his parents and his village, posited that, “I am proud to make my country proud and I am excited to see everyone’s reaction at home.” The other Gold medalists in Claudrice McKoy and Chantoba Bright returned to the United States where they are in College.
Head Coach of the team Julian Edmonds commented: “Yeah it is a record medal haul but it doesn’t tell the full story. I am so proud of these kids. We finished fourth among the Caribbean countries. Trinidad finished just above just with 5 Gold and this is a team that is funded heavily by their government and by Puma Sportswear. If we can get a fraction of that support, our athletes can unlock world class levels.”

Ronessa Hinds, mother of Princess Browne leaped to Bronze in the girls’ Under-17 triple jump, revealed that, “I have been behind my daughter ever since I recognised her talent in nursery school. I am extremely proud of her and I was

Matthew Gordon – under-17 3000m Gold Medalist

confident that she would have medaled because she trains hard. Every single training session and every meet I am there to support her.
She further explained that, “To all parents out there, Parental support is very important; you will get the best (performance) out of your child.”
Guyana Carifta Games Medal Breakdown
Name Medal Race
Claudrice McKoy Gold Women’s U-20 1500 meters
Bronze 3000 meters Open
Chantoba Bright Gold Women’s U-0 Long Jump
Silver U-20 Triple Jump
Anisha Gibbons Gold Girls’ U-17 Javelin
Matthew Gordon Gold Boys’ U-17 3000 meters
Joanna Archer Silver Women’s U-20 800 meters
Audriel Austin Bronze Girls’ U-17 800 meters
Shaquka Tyrell Bronze Girls’ U-17 1500 meters
Princess Browne Bronze Girls’ U-17 Triple Jump

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