Hermonstine sprinting into action as new AAG President

Mar 18, 2025 Sports

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Kaieteur Sports- With a clear and structured plan, Sheryl Hermonstine is sprinting out of the blocks as AAG President, ready to take Guyanese athletics to unprecedented heights.

The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has ushered in a new era under the leadership of Hermonstine, who has wasted no time in laying the groundwork for a transformative tenure.

A former Vice President under Aubrey Hutson, Hermonstine now takes the reins as the second female president in the association’s history, following Dr. Gem Fletcher.

The AAG’s election on Sunday saw Hermonstine defeating Dr. Arianne Mangar by a decisive five-to-one vote, despite some controversy surrounding the process.

However, with the elections now settled, she is focused on elevating Guyanese athletics to new heights. Her ambitious plans centre on developing a sustainable and structured system that will nurture talent, enhance coaching standards, and provide world-class training facilities for athletes.

Hermonstine has outlined a clear vision for the future of track and field in Guyana. At the heart of her administration’s agenda is the belief that the AAG is at a crucial juncture where strategic development will significantly improve the country’s athletic standing.

Her key areas of focus include enhancing coaches’ education through continuous development programmes, establishing and improving athlete training facilities, implementing long-term planning strategies for major competitions, strengthening youth development through the Athletics Academy, and building international partnerships for knowledge exchange and exposure.

Recognizing that the foundation of any successful athletics programme begins with youth development, Hermonstine is placing special emphasis on the AAG’s academy.

She insists that the academy must be the primary incubator for young talent, ensuring that coaches prioritize its role in producing elite athletes.

Coaches, Hermonstine said, will work closely with academy athletes, focusing not just on technical skill development but also on mental resilience and a deep passion for the sport.

By fostering an environment that supports both physical training and holistic growth, the AAG will produce well-rounded athletes prepared to compete at the highest levels.

To ensure that Guyanese athletes receive the best possible guidance, Hermonstine’s administration will introduce mandatory continuous development programmes for coaches. E-learning platforms will be utilized to provide access to cutting-edge coaching methodologies, sports science, and athlete management techniques.

“Coaches must embrace lifelong learning,” Hermonstine highlighted. “We will encourage them to use every available resource to enhance their own skills and, in turn, the performance of our athletes.”

In addition to virtual learning, the AAG will facilitate exchange programmes, allowing coaches to train with international counterparts. By participating in joint training sessions, workshops, and competitions abroad, coaches will gain fresh perspectives and innovative techniques to bring back to Guyana.

These exchanges will not only improve coaching standards but also strengthen regional and international ties in the athletics community.

One of the most ambitious goals under Hermonstine’s leadership is the establishment of a state-of-the-art high-performance training centre. She acknowledged that the quality of training facilities significantly impacts an athlete’s development and success.

To achieve this, she pointed out that the AAG will collaborate with the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports and other key stakeholders to bring this vision to life. The proposed facility will serve as a central hub for elite training, talent identification, and athlete rehabilitation.

Moreover, having a high-performance centre in Guyana will attract national and international competitions, giving local athletes more exposure and competitive experience.

A strong athletics programme is only as good as its coaches, and Hermonstine is committed to ensuring that Guyana has a dedicated and professional coaching workforce. To this end, she is exploring the possibility of implementing a remuneration system for coaches, ensuring they are adequately compensated for their time and expertise.

“Athletics in Guyana cannot progress if our coaches are not valued,” she noted. “We must create an environment where coaching is a viable profession, not just a passion project.”

A performance-based remuneration system will be introduced to reward coaches who contribute significantly to athlete development and success. By offering financial incentives, the AAG hopes to retain top-tier coaching talent and elevate the overall standard of athletics in the country.

Looking ahead, Hermonstine is already thinking long-term, with the 2028 Olympic Games firmly in her sights. The AAG will begin preparations well in advance, identifying potential Olympic athletes and crafting specialized training programmes tailored to optimize their performances.

Coaches will work closely with elite athletes, creating individualized training regimens that focus on skill enhancement, mental conditioning, and peak physical fitness. Additionally, the AAG plans to organize pre-Olympic competitions and training camps to ensure that athletes gain invaluable international experience before taking the global stage.

(Hermonstine sprinting into action as new AAG President)

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