By Tamica Garnett
THE Guyana Defence Force’s Cleveland Forde and Andrea Foster captured wins in the men’s 5 000m and women’s 3 000m, respectively, as the Army closed in on the Guyana Police Force’s lead when competition in the Inter-Service Annual Athletics Championships (ISAACs) continued with the track and field competition yesterday at the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora.The GPF had initially finished with a 47-point lead after the end of the first day of competition last Sunday, when the swimming and road relays were completed. However, after 20 finals at the end of the second day of competition GPF stand with 315.5 points, while the GDF are just behind with 304 points and way down in third place are the Guyana Fire Service with 35.5 points, Guyana Prison Service have 26 points and City Constabulary ended with 20 points.
GDF collected major points from their performance in the 5 000m and 3 000m. In the men’s 5000m, GDF claimed not only the first place but took a clean sweep of all the podium positions in the event. Forde clocked 18:05.2 for the win while just behind him Tyshon Bentick came in second in 18:05.5s and Jemoul Chisholm was third in 18:07.5s.
GDF also took the win in women’s long jump where Aniquah Powley was able to overpower GPF’s Cindy Fraser. Powley covered 5.48m, just enough to overcome Fraser’s 5.43m. GPF came in third thanks to Tandika Burgess who leapt to 5.27m.
However GDF picked up a few more points after having athletes finish fourth and fifth. In the men’s long jump, GDF’s Patrick King’s 6.85m prevailed.
GPF took another second place through Yoel Benjamin with a 6.70m best jump.
“Today (yesterday) was a very good day for us, an excellent day I must say. We won most of the events, and placed second and third.” GDF head coach, Robert Chisholm, commenting on the day’s activities.
Meanwhile head coach for the GPF is not intimidated by the GDF’s wins, and remains enthusiastic about his team’s performance for the day despite disappointments.
“I think they’re sticking to the task. There were a few disappointments, especially in the 5 000; we were expecting to be among the top three but we weren’t, but that didn’t move me that much because I understand that they (GDF) have a good distance unit.
“We did gain some points that we didn’t expect to gain, like in the 3 000 where Boyer did well and got in on the medal hunt and the rest of the athletes finished the race.” Wilson said after the day’s events.
Competition in the Championships continues today at the same venue.