—Less fortunate districts promise upset
DISTRICT 10 (Upper Demerara/Kwakwani) has vowed to reclaim the overall championship honours at this year’s 53rd edition of the Guyana Teachers Union/Ministry of Education Track and Field, Cycling and Swimming Championships which get underway on November 19.The 13-time champions, who over the past nine years have won the overall title five times, have already selected their team which is hard in training leading up to the grand event.
Team manager, Renaldo Crawford, said District 10 is not focusing on defending champions District 11 (North Georgetown), but rather on winning . “We just want good, clean competition. The team has already been selected and would have no problem competing.” Crawford said, adding ,“May the best team win.”
District 11 has won the overall title 13 times also and over the last six years has won it on four occasions.
District 12 (East Georgetown) which was part of the Georgetown team that won the championships in 1979 will be going at it as a separate team once more, as the then Georgetown team has since been divided into three separate teams.
Like other Districts, they are confident they can spring a surprise.
The team’s manager, Rawle Duke, said he would be approaching this year’s championships tactically, noting that his District is a bit weak in the Track and Field aspect.
He said the district will be focusing more on the cycling, swimming and Teachers’ championships as he believes if his charges excel in these three championships and do fairly well in the track and field championship, they will have an outstanding chance to win the overall title.
He admitted his District in not as strong as Districts 10 and 11, but stated that they will put up a fight.
He said a number of the athletes that represented the District last year will do so once more this year.
Like Crawford, District 12 (South Georgetown) assistant team manager, Troy Allen, feels his district can spring a surprise.
Allen said his team will implement a strategic plan and work to it.
He said based on last year’s results, they have analyzed the various events and know which of their athletes to place in which event so as to maximize their winning which means earning more points.
Improving on positions is critical Allen stated, adding, his athletes are almost 100 percent ready.
District 4 (East Demerara) has won the overall title four times since the championships began 52 years ago and according to team manager Rhonda Monze, the team will be aiming to win at least the track and field championship.
She said the District does not have strong swimmers or cyclists but having placed third in the Track and Field championship last year, new faces have been added to the team and they are coming strong to capture the title this year.

(By Michael DaSilva)