… Cleveland Thomas and Matthew McKenzie receive shoes, supplements

RUNNING Brave Athletics Club long distance athletes, Cleveland Thomas and Matthew McKenzie, yesterday each received a pair of running shoes and supplements, to aid in their participation in the COURTS 10K Road Race on Sunday. Proprietor of Windjammer Hotel, Carey Griffith, along with his friend and owner of Professional Key Shop, Quincy Ridley, made the donation which the athletes said was timely as they prepare for the lucrative race, organised by COURTS, as part of their 21st Anniversary celebrations.
“We decided to assist with different supplements in light of the upcoming road races. We know Cleveland Forde is Guyana’s best but I think Cleveland Thomas is going to be a threat and Matthew McKenzie is going to do well in the junior category,” Griffith stated at the simple handing-over ceremony.
In addition, the sponsorship will be geared exclusively to the athletes performing in road races. “It is mostly for the road races, in addition to the COURTS 10K there is also the Guyanese leg of the South American 10k, so it’s mostly for road races and we are going to be on board with these two guys,” Griffith promised.
Ridley, whose Key Shop is located adjacent to Oasis Café, was proud to be associated with both athletes and wished them the best of luck and looks forward to their performances on Sunday at the COURTS 10k.
Thomas, a recognised face in 10K events in Guyana, was happy for the kind gesture shown by the Key Shop and pointed out “We would just like to say thank you, it’s a timely gesture and we really appreciate it. This will help with our success and anybody else that wants to come on board is free to do so,”
Stressing on the magnitude of sponsorship from Griffith and Ridley, Thomas said that sometimes, “the winning prizes can’t suffice, there isn’t a 10K every month and it’s pretty costly to prepare. I hardly take time off; and you have supplements, transportation and gear which is costly I can’t put a figure to it but it is”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s race which fetches a total purse of $1.2M, Thomas said that Forde, dubbed the ‘Little Kenyan’, is beatable and highlighted his high training regime to dethrone the defending champion.
“I will go out there and do and put my best foot forward, me and my coach have been working over the past three weeks. There is no doubt Forde is dominant but he is not unbeatable, he (Forde) bleeds the same blood as I do,” Thomas said.