DISQUALIFICATIONS for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Guyana Police Force (GPF) teams handed the men’s sprint medley win to the Super Upcoming Runners (SUR), while GDF men walked away with wins in the 4x100m, 4x200m and distance medley. Police won the men’s 4x400m of the Boyce and Jefford Relay Festival and Family Fun Day last Sunday at the Guyana Police Force ground, Eve Leary. On the women’s side, the SUR girls won their sprint medley and 4x100m relay, Mercury Fast Laners (MFL) won the distance medley and 4x400m while Police women’s team picked up the win in the 4x200m.
What promised to be a day of excitement and intense rivalry lived up to all expectations, as passionate battles raged, both on and off the track, particularly between the GDF and GPF men.
The situation climaxed in the men’s sprint medley (100x200x400x800m), where it was obvious both teams were fiercely gunning hard after that win. Police Kevin Abbensettes threw down the gauntlet against GDF’s Rupert Perry for the 100m, before Elton Bollers upped the lead for Police on the 200m dash, leaving Akeem Stewart in his wake.
The first sign that all was not right showed up in the third leg as a tussle ensued between Police’s Kareem Purch and GDF’s Davin Fraser, as Fraser tried to overtake Purch on the turn in the 400m dash of the relay.
Though both managed to finish their leg and see the relay end with Police finishing first and GDF in second, uproar followed on the field, with patrons needing to restrain fuming athletes from both teams.
Both teams were subsequently disqualified. The SUR were consequently named winners. The MFL team rose to second, and the University of Guyana (UG) team advanced to third.
Nonetheless, the GDF were the most accomplished men’s team of the day beating the Police into second place in the 4x100m, 4x200m, and distance medley. SUR came third in all three relays.
Police saved their best for last and won the men’s 4x400m in stunning fashion in the day’s final event. The Police team consisted of Purch, Linton Mentis, Trevor Scotland and Winston Dummett. Second place for this relay went to the SUR team with MFL third.
On the distaff end, Police picked up second place in the sprint medley and 4x100m, where MFL also finished third both times. Police also placed second in the 4x400m.