DUE to her inability to get the necessary time off from her full time job in the United States of America (USA), Guyana’s 400m track star Aliann Pompey would not be able to compete in the upcoming President’s/Jefford Track and Field Classic which is set for the Mackenzie Sports Club ground this Sunday.
Pompey disclosed her unavailability to organiser of the event, Edison Jefford, who is hosting same to the memory of his late father and former president of the Amateur Athletics Association of Guyana (AAAG) Elton Jefford.
Despite being unable to compete, Pompey who won gold at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester England and is looking for the opportunity to compete on home soil before retiring, has agreed to offer a prize to the winner of the 400m race which has been renamed ‘The Aliann Pompey 400m Race’.
“I know you are working very hard and are thoroughly vested in this meet being a success. I think it’s great on so many levels; for the sports, for Guyana, for us as athletes overseas and at home, and for the young people coming up.
“I’ve always felt that events like this is what we need to instil not only pride in our talent as a country, but furthers the idea that no one in the world has a leg up on us; all we need is a starting point,” said Pompey.
She added; “That being said, I’d do all in my power to support this endeavour. However, I do work full time and I can’t take a week off. I mentioned my limitations with practice/time trials and preparations for the Commonwealth Games.
“I am sorry I can’t risk both my job and Commonwealth Games to be there. Maybe I can offer a prize for the winner of the 400m. Please let me know your thoughts. It’s my hope to compete in Guyana before I retire, and I guess this just means that I can’t retire at the end of this season.”
In their response, the organising committee expressed the regrets at not having one of Guyana’s decorated athletes compete in the event.
“We sincerely regret the fact that Aliann was unable to get the time out from her full-time job to travel to Guyana on the dates we had available.
“Because of that, the top athlete has opted to remain in preparation for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. Aliann was scheduled to be our Guest of Honour at what is set to be a prestigious track and field meet in Linden this Sunday.
The Technical Committee and Coordinators of the President’s/Jefford Track and Field Classic would like to inform the general media that the female 400m race at the meet would now be named ‘The Aliann Pompey 400m Race’, following her commitment to provide the top prize for the event”.
Meanwhile, Jefford informed Chronicle Sport the ground staff were working feverishly to get the ground in top shape for Sunday’s meet.
“I must commend the ground staff for the hard work they have put in despite the adverse weather conditions. They will commence marking same to international specifications tomorrow (today), while the sponsors will begin their work with regard to decorating the ground with their banners on Saturday (tomorrow).
The weather has been great over the last two days, but the ground staff chose to cut the ground today as they wished to leave it dry from the inclement weather that has been sweeping across the community recently.”
Jefford further stated that he is expecting the weather to hold up over the next two days, so as to give the athletes who will be competing in the biggest track and field meet held here locally in the new millennium, a chance to showcase their talent to the public.