Written By Michael DaSilva
DEFENDING champions District 11 are confident of making a successful defence of the overall Guyana Teachers Union/Ministry of Education/Digicel-sponsored National Schools Track and Field, Cycling and Swimming Championships which is billed for the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, from November 19.
Speaking to Chronicle Sport via telephone yesterday, Mariska Williams, an official of the District 11 team said she is very confident her district can retain the title they won last year from multiple title-holders Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani (District 10).
According to Williams, District 11 team comprises several athletes who have represented Guyana regionally and internationally over the past few years.
“We are very confident of winning the cycling and swimming championships, but not too sure of the Track and Field aspect, but even if we place second in the track and field, we are still going to win the overall title.” Williams declared, adding, “We have also been winning the teachers aspect for quite a number of years and this year will be no different.”
Williams proudly stated that among the athletes that will be representing District 11 are track athletes Jevina Straker, Jevina Sampson, Kevin Abbensetts, Dequan Vancooten and Yesenia Andrews, cyclists Alonzo Ambrose and Hamza Ali and swimmers Britney Van Lange and Onica George.
Williams reminded that District 11 have won the Swimming Championships for the past 11 years “and this year we’ll make it 12 in a row.” The proud official boasted.
These athletes, Williams said, have all done Guyana proud at regional competitions.
Straker is tipped to repeat her gold medal performance in the Girls 10km road race which she won in a time of 44 minutes 20 seconds. She also won the Under-20 Girls 800 and 1500 metres.
Abbensetts won the Under-18 Boys 100 metres in 10.9 seconds.
At the recently concluded Inter-Guiana Games in neighbouring Suriname, Abbensetts won gold medal in the 100 metres Boys’ race registering a time of 11.33 seconds.
Straker, a three-time Carifta Games gold medallist won the Girls’ 1500 metres also in Suriname.
Williams said the District 11 athletes will be encamped from November 18, but could not say at what location.
