GUYANA and Linden’s international middle distance track star, Marian Burnett arrived in Guyana from Florida late Monday night ready to represent the turf she started her illustrious career on in the early 90s , at the third annual President’s/Jefford Classic to be held at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground on Sunday. Burnett is very familiar with the venue, given the fact that she had first caught the eyes of athletic luminaries there and now several years later and with many accolades to boast about, Burnett returns to compete in Linden.

She will be doing so in her favourite events, the 800 and 1500m, with the latter being dubbed an international event, following the participation of Grenada’s Kenisha Pascal and other athletes from Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname respectively.

Apart from those athletes, Burnett will have local support from Jevina Straker and Alika Morgan, who have been two of the consistent up-and-coming local athletes in recent times, making the Women’s 1500m one of the many scorching events for the day.

Upon her arrival, Burnett said she is happy to be home to compete after such a long time and following a break to concentrate on family life.

She returned to the track in mid-February with the goal of qualifying for her third Olympic Games, scheduled for London, England.

The diminutive but powerful athlete will not be an easy contender when she competes before an expectant crowd in the Mining Town and she disclosed that she is on a mission to get back amid the top 10 middle distance runners in the world and wants to be impressive.

Burnett competed at both the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and 2008 Beijing Games, while she has the distinct privilege of being a NCAA Indoor Champion in 2002 for Louisiana State University and a former world leader in the 800 and 1500m events respectively.

The three-time National ‘Sportswoman of the Year’ has a personal best time of 4:17.91 achieved in Rio de Janeiro in 2007 for the 1500m and 1:59.47 in the 800m, which are world class times from a senior female athlete renowned by the world, by any stretch of the imagination.

Burnett is excited to be competing at the President’s/Jefford Track and Field Classic, and will be formerly addressing the media today, while she will be making several courtesy calls and was seen working out in the streets of Linden where she is based for the meet.