FIVE finals are set to be completed, and a number of heats run off today when Guyana’s premier athletics event, the Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic, gets under way at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground, Linden, with action beginning at13:00hrs.Events expected to be completed today include the 3000m women, the 5000m men, the long jump women, the medley relays and the 4x100m finals.
Local clubs will begin the gruelling task of fighting not only against each other for the coveted $600 000 top prize but will have to withstand the pressure of competing against athletes straight out of the athletics powerhouse nation Jamaica.
Jamaica this year fields a team of four athletes, along with their coach Patrick Dawson. Jamaica’s contingent includes Nicholas Maitland (200m), Keno Burrell (200m) and Seidatha Palmer (100m, 200m).
In addition to the Jamaican athletes, the event will once again have athletes from the USA, Trinidad, Suriname, Grenada, the Bahamas and St Vincent.
From Trinidad are athletes Mark London (800m, 1500m) and Tonya Nero (1500m, 3 000m). There will be Danielle Clarke out of Suriname (100m, 200m), Kenisha Pascal (1500m, 3 000m) from Grenada, and Josh Hamilton (100m, 200m) of St Vincent.
In the six international events the top 3 winners will walk away with cash prizes of US$250, US$150 and US$100 respectively.
Defending overall champions Police Athletics Club will no doubt have an uphill task on their hands to overcome every obstacle if they are to retain their title of the competition. On the local front, Police will face fierce competition with the Linden team coming as a united front this year.
Additionally last year’s runners-up, the Guyana Defence Force, will be out to give Police the challenge.