THE four Trinidadian athletes scheduled to participate at this weekend’s Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic arrived in Guyana yesterday, along with their team manager, while the Jamaica contingent was expected to arrive last night. Arriving at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport yesterday were Ashton Gill, Recardo Prescott, Shikyla Walcott and Joanna Rogers, along with their manager Kelvin Nancoo.
Nancoo predicts a good showing from all his athletes this weekend particularly Gill, who he has down to win the lucrative international men’s 800m event at the Classic.
“He’ll win that race this year for sure,” Nancoo predicted.
Gill, who was in the same race at the Classic last year, had finished in second place after bowing out against Guyana’s Kelvin Bayley. Bayley, who now resides in the U.S., arrived in Guyana earlier this week, and will also be in the race, no doubt looking to defend his title and give Gill a run for his money.
If Gill is to prevail he would also have to overcome his compatriot Prescott, also in this race.
Of the other athletes Walcott is scheduled to be a contender in the women’s 100m and 200m sprints – the 200m being one of the monetary ‘international’ races in the Classic, while Rogers will be in the women’s 1500m.
In that 1500m Rogers can expect serious competition from Grenada’s Kenisha Pascal, along with other top local middle-distance queens. Guyana’s Andrea Foster is the defending champion in this event, but will not be participating this year, hence leaving the title up for grabs.
Meanwhile, the Jamaican athletes, including Keno Burrell, were expected to arrive in Guyana last evening. Other international athletes set to take part in the meet are scheduled to arrive in Guyana today.
The international athletes are looking to cash in on the lucrative ‘international’ events featured at the meet, each of which carries a purse of US$500, divided among the top three athletes in the events, with US$250 for first place, US$150 for second, and US$100 for third.
In continuing in that stride of making it bigger and better with each coming year, this year’s edition will see the increase of the ‘international events’ at the meet from six last year to eight this year, with the addition of the men’s and women’s javelin throws.
The other international events carded for the Championships are the women’s 200m, 1500m, and triple jump, along with the men’s 200m, 800m, and long jump.
In addition, the Champion Male and Female athletes will pocket $50 000 each while the Media and Masters races also have a similar $50 000 prize. Trophies will be given to the top four clubs while medals will be distributed to all athletes placing 1-3.
The cash prizes for the clubs total $2M with the winner running away with $1M.