THE North Georgetown (District 11) 50th Independence Track Meet is set for the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, on Sunday March 20, executives of the district announced yesterday at a press conference held at the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) office.

Athletes from six clubs and two districts are set to participate at the meet, which is being hosted as part of Guyana’s 50th Independence celebrations, which has been ongoing all year.
“In planning its activities for the year 2016, the executives of the GTU North Georgetown Branch birthed the idea that in recognition of the Golden Jubilee of our Nation, in the field of sports, a track meet be held. This would be the ideal way to demonstrate the best Guyana has to offer in both senior and junior categories of athletics. This marquee event will offer our athletes the opportunity to display their athletic prowess.” District representative Mariska Williams said yesterday.
The event was conceptualised since last year, as a prelude to the annual National Schools Championships held in November but several hiccups saw the postponement of the meet.
However, executives thought it fitting to host the meet as part of the independence celebrations.
“Initially we wanted to have a little meet before Nationals (School Championships) last year, but when we approached the districts the only one that really showed the interest in having the meet to prepare the athletes was the East Coast. So when the executives of the North Georgetown met this year we decided that we’re going to have that meet this year,” Williams stated.
According to Williams, most of the athletes who represented the North Georgetown District at the National Schools Championships last year came from a single athletic club. The coach indicated that the athletes could not participate at the meet at this point in time. Half of their track team came from the Running Brave Athletic Club.
Nonetheless, Williams noted that the meet will be a boost for those athletes from Nationals, especially those who do not get to participate at other meets regularly outside of competing at Nationals.
She pointed out that the meet is being held at the Police ground for a number of reasons including financial constraints. At present the meet is looking at a budget of over $500 000.
The executives also expressed profound gratitude to those sponsors who came on board to support the event.
Sponsors for the event include COURTS Guyana Inc., National Sports Commission, Banks DIH, and Ministry of Education.