RUNNER-UP junior sportswoman-of-the-year Casey George and junior sportsman-of-the-year Jason Yaw are expected to head the team of nine participants that will be representing Guyana at this year’s CARIFTA Games from April 18 to 21 in Martinique.The team, which was selected by the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), includes Jevina Sampson, Natricia Hooper, Avon Samuels, Brenessa Thompson and Kadecia Baird, on the female side, along with George, and Kevin Abbensetts and Kade Pearce, on the male side with Yaw.
George, who won gold and silver medals last year in the Under-17 1500m and 800m respectively, will be back in a 1500m but this time in the Under-18 category, as it was last year agreed by the competition’s council to raise the age category in keeping with protocol of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
George will also be in the open 3000m, and on the 4x400m team, which will include Sampson, Hooper, and Samuels.
Sampson will debut in the girls’ Under-18 200m and 400m. In both events she will also be competing alongside Samuels. Thompson and Baird will compete in the Under-20 category, with Thompson in the 100m and 200m, and Baird will be in the 200m and 400m events.
In addition to the relay Hooper will also compete in the girls’ Under-18 triple jump.
Bronze medallist Yaw will compete in the boys’ Under-18 200m and 400m. Abbensetts and Pearce are in the boys’ Under 20 category; Abbensetts will be in the 100m and 200m, Pearce in the high jump and triple jump.
The team’s head coach will be Sham Johnny, while assistant coaches are Shawn Dietz, Glenton Pantlitz and Matthew Martin, with Mayfield Taylor-Trim executing the duties of team manager and Emmerson Campbell as media personnel.