Early Season Classic Athletics Meet on next weekend

Mar 06, 2020 Sports

By Calvin Chapman

The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) is in full preparation mode for next weekend’s Early Season Classic Athletics Meet which is slated to run off at the National Track and Field Center (NTFC), Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

Akeem Stewart (winner) will be participating in next weekend’s meet.

President of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson, during an invited comment with Kaieteur Sport, explained that an action packed event is highly anticipated. The lead administrator further explained that although operations seem to slow down during the General Elections period, preparations are coming along smoothly and fans can expect to be highly entertained on March 14th and 15th.
Hutson shared that this event will be a real treat since it will also serve as the final local Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) trials for the 49th edition of the junior athletic competition, scheduled for Bermuda on Easter weekend (April 10th -13th).
Junior athletes the likes of Loneil Marks who is vying to qualify for 200m Under-20 Boys’ event will be pitted against top senior athletes including Davin Fraser and Akeem Stewart who have both been confirmed by the AAG to compete in next weekend’s competition.

Kenisha Phillips (right) is one of the 12 athletes who have qualified so far for the 49th CARIFTA Games, next month.

More fireworks are expected with Jamaica based student-athlete, Emmanuel Archibald who reset the national men’s long jump record twice last year also set to return to participate. Archibald, who also has wins against Jamaican Olympian Yohan Blake under his belt in the 100m dash, will pose a major threat in the 100m & 200m sprints.
National men’s Javelin record holder; Leslain Baird, who has fully recovered from a recent injury, will take center stage as aims to shatter his own record to make the 85m Tokyo Olympics qualifying mark.
Huston posited that, “We are taking a more serious approach with Track & Field this year with much more events packed into our calendar as you can see for yourself already this year. This Early Season Classic will be used primarily by the CARIFTA hopefuls to get a harder push in making the last cut for the games next month in Bermuda while the seniors will be gauging their fitness levels and chances of making the Olympic Standards.”
Currently, 12 Guyanese have qualified for CARIFTA 2020 namely, Kenisha Phillips, Anisha Gibbons, Attoya Harvey, Seon Booker, Okenoko Pascal, Wesley Tyndall, Randy Hamilton, Adriel Austin, Keliza Smith, Annalisa Barclay, Princess Browne and Trevon Hamer.