CARIFTA Games silver medalist Chantoba Bright, National Schools Championships record holder Kenisha Phillips along with Daniel Williams and Tyrell Peters are the athletes selected to represent Guyana at the South American Youth Championships 2016.The athletes were selected by the Athletics Association of Guyana for the Championships slated for Argentina from November 12 – 14.

According to team manager Mayfield Taylor-Trim, it was a difficult task narrowing down the team to the final four from an earlier shortlisted 10 athletes which included athletes’ like Avon Samuels.
She added that unlike the usual narrative,cost was not as much a factor this time around, also noting that the AAG had been checking ticket prices for some time now and the prices were consistently high.

“It was kind of really hard, because a lot of the athletes would have made the timings, but then you have to look at the best way to ensure that you bring back medals. The fares weren’t as much a criteria, the prices have been this high for over a month now.” Taylor-Trim said.

As it pertains to medal prospects,Taylor-Trim said that hopes are relatively high because the standards that these athletes have been making is on par with qualifying marks that the meet was calling for

“The timings that we were looking for all the athletes that we have selected have made those timings. The organizers,they gave qualifying times and the athletes that we have selected we see that they would have made those times, so we’re hoping for the best.” she explained.

The South American Youth Championship is a biennial event, where under-17 athletes from all across South America compete. This year’s team represent an increase in the number of participants that represented Guyana in 2014 when the event was held in Columbia. That year Guyana was well represented by Jason Yaw and Natricia Hooper. Yaw set the 46.79s record in the boys’ 400m, while Hooper brought home silver in the girls’ 400m.

At this year’s event Bright is expected to participate in the girls’ long jump and triple, Phillips will be in the girls’ 100m and 200m. On the boys side Williams will be in the high jump and 400m, while Peters is set to compete in the 100m and 200m.

The team will be accompanied by Taylor-Trim and Coach Johnny Greavesande.