GUYANA’S former sprint champion Alicia Fortune yesterday paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony to share with him the gains of her journey to San Jose, Costa Rica where she represented Guyana at the North, Central American and Caribbean World Masters Athletics Championships (NCCWMA) last August. 

Fortune competed in the 35-39 age categories in the 100-, 200- and 400- metre track events, copping gold in all three.
Following this achievement, the Guyana Masters Association is planning to send a group of athletes to the South American Masters Championships in Medellin, Colombia, in November, with Fortune being given a special invitation in an effort to enhance the quality of the competition.
Fortune’s success comes after more than 10 years of the Masters Association being inactive and months after it was resuscitated in June of this year.
While interacting with the Minister and Permanent Secretary Alfred King, Fortune noted that the experience was gratifying especially when the Golden Arrowhead was hoisted, adding that with the completion of the synthetic track at Leonora, athletics’ training will be boosted.
Minister Anthony lauded Fortune for her achievement which demonstrates that an athlete is never too old to compete and expressed his satisfaction with Fortune’s passion for the sport.
The minister also noted that he is pleased with the resuscitation of the Masters Association, and hopes that there will be more collaboration between the ministry and the organisation, while suggesting that Guyana start its own Masters competition so that Guyanese athletes in this particular category will have the chance to perform.
With regard to the synthetic track, Minister Anthony recalled the recent certification of the facility and added that equipment of international standards is being procured and there are works to be completed soon on the stands and surroundings.