THE BEST of Guyana’s distance athletes are expected to turn out in their numbers come Sunday, October 26, to compete in the 12th South American 10K Road Race. The race was officially launched by the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) last Friday afternoon at Olympic House, High Street. 

The open international male and female categories will feature cash prizes from first to fifth, with a top prize of US$1000, while second to fifth places will receive US$600, US$400, US$300, US$200 respectively.
The event will also feature competitions in a Junior category, open to individuals between 16 and 20 years of age, a Women’s 35-and-over, a Masters’ category, along with a Masters Men’s 40-55 and 56-and-over categories.
For the Masters prizes will be awarded from first- to third-place, with prizes $20 000, $12 000, and $8 000, respectively. For the Masters 56-and-over category the prizes are $15 000, $10 000, and $5 000 respectively.
All of the cash prizes are expected to be accompanied by trophies. As it pertains to the Junior category, prizes are set from first to fifth as well, with values set at US$100, US$75, US$50 and US$25.
It was emphatically noted by AAG president Aubrey Hutson that in keeping with International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), rules, the juniors will not be receiving cash.
“Any junior athlete, competing in this race be it in the junior category or in the open category, will not receive prize money. If a junior athlete competes in the open category he/she will not a receive cash prize; the money they gain can be issued to them in the form of grants for them to buy stuff as it relates to athletics and academics, but we will not be issuing prize money to those athletes. For the Junior category, though we have figures attached to their prizes this will not come in the form of cash. The IAAF basically told us ‘you cannot have a prize race for juniors with cash, juniors are not allowed to compete for cash’.” Hutson stressed.
Reiterating the point was AAG vice-president Gavin Hope, who noted that it is the Association’s job to ensure the athletes “tow the line”. However, Hope noted, if junior athletes and their clubs insist on having the cash prize instead, then they will do so at their own risk.
Medical services for the race will be provided by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and will include two doctors, and a medical tent with at least five medical personnel stationed at the end of the race. The contingent will also include two ambulances, one following the last athlete, and another – from the Ministry of Health, – patrolling the race looking for those athletes who may have suffered along the way.
“This is to avoid what we’ve learnt of athletes collapsing with 8k and 9k to go and have to wait for the ambulance to bring the last person before recognising that there had been an incident . “ Hutson said.
Registration for the event has already begun and has a closing date set at October 17. Registration fee stands at $1 000 for open category entries, while it will be $500 for the juniors and masters categories. Late registration will be facilitated but this will be done at a late registration cost of $2 000. The route for the event will be the same as last year.
Apart from the invitations sent out to the other South American countries, invitations have also been extended to a number of countries including Panama, Mexico, Trinidad, and Grenada.
Wrapping up, Hutson stated that all in all the organising committee is looking forward to a great race, come October 26

(By Tamica Garnett)