ALL systems are in place for tomorrow’s Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG)/Massy 10K run which gets under way at 06:00hrs from Vreed-en-Hoop and concludes at the Neil and Massy Head Office, Ruimveldt, East Bank Demerara.Speaking to Chronicle Sport yesterday, AAG president Aubrey Hutson said he is very upbeat about tomorrow’s race and promises spectators and enthusiasts that the event will be a scorcher.
According to Hutson, meetings have already been held with the Guyana Police Force Traffic Chief, Eion Moore, the Guyana Defence Force Medical Corps and the administrators of the Demerara Harbour Bridge. “So those things are settled,” Hutson said.
After leaving Vreed-en-Hoop, the athletes will travel along the West Bank Demerara highway and cross the Demerara Harbour Bridge, hence the meeting with the Harbour Bridge people.
According to Hutson, as of yesterday morning over 80 athletes have been registered and he is expecting that number to top 100.
The AAG boss, who just returned from the World Athletics Championships in Bejing, China, said before he left Guyana for Bejing, his association had already started to put measures in place for the smooth running of the event, but while in China, he was uneasy. However, on his return to Guyana, he found out that his organising committee had done their work and he is very elated.
He informed that a few key athletes are still to get registered, one such athlete is the defending female champion Eulene Josiah-Tanner who, according to information, had problems getting a flight home to defend her title.
“For all you know, she might be home tomorrow.”
Hutson said quite a number of Masters have already been registered and that category is expected to be very competitive.
Hutson said the male category should see Cleveland `The Little Kenyan’ Forde and Cleveland Thomas battling for honours and that both athletes are in good nick.
Forde has won four editions of the Massy 10K run and would be seeking to win it a fifth time.
Hutson mentioned that in the absence of Josiah-Tanner, Alika Morgan can expect keen rivalry from Andrea Foster who has returned to Guyana to be a part of the event, but he is not ruling out Josiah-Tanner’s presence since he said Tanner would really like to defend her title.
The winners of both the male and female categories will receive $75 000 each while the second- and third-place finishers in both categories will earn $50 000 and $25 000 respectively.
The top Masters will receive hampers (Michael DaSilva)