“THEY came, they saw, they conquered” one of the most famous lines used when historians speak about Julius Caesar and his Roman empire taking over of Great Britain in 55 B.C.E , and yesterday, the same was said about Guyana’s male and female Athletics team at this year’s Inter Guiana games after they convincingly reclaimed the overall title from nemesis and host Suriname.
When the Roman regime expired, they left behind what are, today, several historic sites in England, but at the Inter Guiana Games, the only thing Guyana left behind was the shattered and dejected look on the face of the Surinamese at the Andre Kampervene Stadium in Paramaribo.

Guyana amassed a total of 351 points to reclaim what they say is rightfully theirs from Suriname (307 points), recapturing the title they lost in 2010 when the championships were held in French Guiana.

The Guyanese that year were weakened by injuries and other international events in which their top athletes had to compete but this time around, as promised, they made sure that their more senior competitors were not only available, but were also in top form.

Stefan James who won the 400M on Saturday, returned in the 200M yesterday to register a blistering 22.64 seconds to stop 100M champion Chavez Ageday who was second (22.84) and Jeremy Vanan of Suriname (23.15) third.

Suriname’s Daniele Clarke clocked 25.61 to win the women’s 200M ahead of Guyana’s Letitia Myles (26.53) and Tiffany Carto (26.96) who finished second and third respectively.

Guyana dominated both the male and female distance events when Andrea Foster won the 3000M in a time of twelve minutes, 14.32 seconds (12:14.32), her teammate Alexis Williams (12:25.16) seconds and Suriname’s Sefina Goncalves (12:35.38) third.

Nathaniel Giddings (16:52.76) went on to win the 5000M amidst some controversy. The Surinamese athletes had complained that the he (Giddings) was pushing them during the race and as such they lodged an official protest.

Giddings and the Guyanese official argued that the officials on the track didn’t raise a flag to signal an infringement and after some minutes of deliberation, the results remained the same.

Ernesto Thomas suffered at the hands of the Surinamese officials in the 800M when he clearly piped the hosts Vosoe Anton at the finish line but was given second place.
While the Guyanese contingent had to settle for the results, they were amazed at the disparity in the times, when Thomas’ time showed two minutes, 04.04 seconds (2:04.04) and Anton 2:03.76.

Melisa Byass surged to gold in the womens 800M, running two minutes, 22.14 seconds (2:22.14) ahead of Jevina Straker (2:23.74) and Suriname’s Geneliva Diko (2:29.46).
Unlike Saturday, Suriname had good showing in the field with Guyana only winning the womens Shot Put – Lisa Bowman (9.83 Metres) – and the women’s long Jump – Juanita Hooper (5.31 Metres).

The curtain came down on the day with Guyana winning both the male and female 4X400M races in emphatic fashion.
First, the women team of Byass, Myles, Straker and 13 year-old Jevina Sampson from their Suriname and French counterparts when they easily took home the gold.

Chavez Ageday showed some versatility when he ran the third leg of the 4X400M mens relay. Ageday is known for being Guyana’s top junior 100M sprinter but a different side of him was seen at the Andre Kampervene Stadium in Suriname.

He looked well composed and while his competition barely bothered him, his team mates, Stefan James, Marlon Moshette and Bevon Noble made sure that their margin of victory would be huge.