PRESIDENT of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), Aubrey Hutson, disclosed that his Association is looking forward to continued cooperation with the new government for the development of athletics. Speaking with Hutson, he said, “I’m hoping that the new government is going to continue our involvement in making sure that the standards the IAAF is looking for are kept. We believe that we should be working with the Permanent Secretary in the event that a new administration comes in.”
He continued by saying, “Whatever changes may take place at the political top … it doesn’t affect our programme going forward. I’m meeting with the ‘PS’ and I plan to constantly meet and update him in relation to our plans for track and field and taking it forward.”
Hutson revealed that the Ministry of Sport’s current Permanent Secretary, Steve Ninvalle, already took the step to organise and meet. He hopes the Ministry official will keep them abreast with developments so they can achieve full involvement.
Meanwhile, the AAG has its plate full as they are preparing for two South American Championships with members of the team that qualified for this year’s CARIFTA Games, and did not compete.
The Under-20s will compete at the South American Juniors Championships which is set for July 3-5 in Cuenca, Ecuador. That team consists of Aniqua Powley, Ernesto Thomas and Linton Mentis.
Columbia will then host the IAAF World Youth Championships from July 15 to 19 where the Under-18 squad from Guyana’s CARIFTA team is expected to compete.
Attending this event will be Avon Samuels, Natricia Hooper, Cassie George, Claudrice McKoy, Shantoba Bright, Campton Caesar and Matthew McKenzie.
Hutson revealed to Chronicle Sport that the coach in charge of these teams is Robert Chisholm of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
The AAG disclosed that they normally send one athlete to the South American Junior Championships to satisfy the recommendations of the body responsible for World Athletics, IAAF, but the association is looking to attend all South American meets in large numbers to give the locals full exposure.
His view is to have Guyana become a force to be reckoned with when they compete internationally and having this kind of experience will in time realise the goal.

By Kizan Brumell