… AAG begins encampment this weekend; trials on February 11 and 18

LAST year, a 12-member team raked in Guyana’s largest medal tally (eight) at the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) Games. Among the medals was Compton Caesar’s coveted gold in the Boys’ U-20 100 metres.
This time around, the president of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Aubrey Hutson hopes to send a 20-man squad to the event which will be held in The Bahamas, March 30-April 2.

Ever since Gladstone Hopkinson (1500m) won Guyana’s first-ever gold medal at the Games’ inaugural event in Barbados, 1972, athletes from the ‘Land of Many Waters’ have been a regular feature at the games which saw Usain Bolt set what still remains the World Junior record in the 200m (19.93 secs) in 2004.

Speaking exclusively with Chronicle Sport yesterday, Hutson said following the youth and junior athletes’ steady improvement in track and field, especially over the last year, his association will be pushing to send 20, but no less than 10 participants to compete at the Thomas Robinson Stadium.

Hutson explained that from this weekend, using the National Schools Championships, as well as the three developmental meets held this year, some athletes will be heading into a camp. The CARIFTA Games trials are set for February 11 and 18 at the Leonora Track and Field Centre.

Hutson humorously stated, “Well, if these athletes keep performing the way they’ve been doing since the school championships and what we’ve seen over the last couple of weeks, then the AAG might as well prepare to buy an aircraft to send this team,” However, he was serious when he pointed out, “It will come down to the usual thing, finances; but we’re looking to send our strongest possible team to the games.”

OVERSEAS ATHLETES
Last year, Natricia Hooper, who attends Essex County College in the US, won gold in the Girls’ U-20 Triple Jump (13.08 metres) being the lone overseas-based athlete on the squad.

Avon Samuels, Claudrice McKoy and Onassha Rogers departed last year after competing at the South American U-20 Championships to attend Monroe College in the New York, and when asked about the possibility of having them included in the team, Hutson said, “Well, remember it’s two athletes per event at the CARIFTA Games, but we will send out best athletes.”

“We’re still working out a formula which will be used, because if a local athlete gets the qualifying standard time at our trials, as against someone overseas, I will always be in favour of that local athlete, but at the same time, we have to monitor their (overseas athletes) performance and compare them,” Hutson categorically opined.

It should be noted the McKoy was third in the 1500 metres (4:50.88) at last year’s CARIFTA Games, and, along with both Samuels and Rogers, has been one of the top performers at her collegiate level. The aforementioned athletes have all had several top-of-the-podium finishes this season for Monroe College and are still arguably the best Guyana has to offer in their respective track events.
Meanwhile, Hutson stated that finances will be one of their usual challenges and the only deterrent for his association being able to send a large contingent.