Seventy-one athletes registered so far for Aliann Pompey Invitational
USA’s Brycen Spratlin and Guyana’s Winston George after winning the men’s 400m at the AP Invitational last year
USA’s Brycen Spratlin and Guyana’s Winston George after winning the men’s 400m at the AP Invitational last year

 

WITH the buzz over the recently held South American Junior Championships waning, persons in the athletics arena are now putting their focus on the next biggest international athletics meet to be held in Guyana – the Aliann Pompey Invitational.
Set for July 15, there’s just one month to go, and Guyana’s Aliann Pompey is working assiduously to ensure that everything is in place and all goes well so that this second annual AP Invitational is not just another success but greater than last year’s.
“Last year we had the highest attended athletics competition, and I think we can beat that. There are more athletes competing, both from other countries and representing Guyana. There’s prize money in more events. It’s going to be nearly 4 hours of nail-biting excitement,” Pompey told Chronicle Sport.
“The interest is definitely there, and I think added to (that is) the fact that our athletes are performing exceptionally well. Additionally, the level of international athletes that we have will hopefully draw a crowd.”
Pompey herself was present at the SAJC, and was impressed with what she saw at that meet, and can’t wait for the athletes to come out, and once again show what they can do.
“I think we had a tremendous number of talented, young athletes who truly rose to the occasion and made us proud and we won a record number of medals at the South American Under-20. It was a tremendous feat to be able to pull off such a big competition. Credit is definitely due to everyone who was a part of that process,” Pompey expressed.
Thus far a total of 71 athletes have already registered for the event, including Olympic silver medallist, Jamaica’s Kerron Stewart. Stewart is expected to put up quite the challenge for last year’s Fly-Jamaica women’s 100m champion, Guyana’s Brenessa Thompson.
The event will have nine invitational events – the men’s and women’s 100m, 400m, 400m hurdles, 100mh/110mh and the men’s triple jump.
Last year the AP Invitational saw some 30 overseas-based athletes compete against the local athletes. It was the first international meet to be held at Guyana’s only synthetic track facility, National Track and Field Centre. It drew a crowd of thousands.
“The feedback I got after the first meet last year was tremendous. Hours after the competition, I was talking to people, both stakeholders and fans of the sport. Because of the response that night I agreed to do it again this year,” she explained.
For Pompey, last year’s event taught her a few things when it comes to planning an international meet.
“An important thing that came out of last year’s event is that consistency in planning is key. So I’m working with the key people that made the vent successful last year,” Pompey said.
“This year I’ve also worked more extensively with Trevor Williams who manages the facility, and leaned on his expertise regarding the layout of the land to ensure that the fans/spectators’ needs are met.”
Confident that this event will do well, a number of sponsors have returned to give support, GOA, Min. of Education, IAAF/ConSudAtle, Banks DIH, Ramada Hotel, Fly-Jamaica and Quality Plus.
There are also a few individuals who’ve come on board to personally support the event because they share the vision and are moved by the mission of the competition.
They include Lennox Cush, Linden’s Mayor Carwyn Holland and Gerald Douglas, Attorney-at-Law to name a few.
“I want to make it clear that this is ours. This meet belongs to all of Guyana. It’s something that should inspire our version of Usain Bolt, or Shaunae Miller. Even back when I was competing, I kept saying, we have the talent.
“It’s evident by how our young athletes just performed for us. We need to keep that momentum going to the senior (level). We have to give them the pathway to the next big step and that’s Olympic and World domination,” Pompey ended.

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