ATHLETES taking part in the National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships started arriving at the Games Village on Saturday, and more arrivals continued yesterday ahead of the championships starting today with the 10km road race, swimming and cycling events.The athletes will be housed at various schools along Woolford Avenue, including Tutorial High and North Georgetown Secondary.
As is customary, the students of these schools will have no classes during the one-week duration of the Championships.
The 10km race will begin at 6am this morning, while the swimming at the National Aquatic Centre starts off at 9.00hrs. The cycling will be held at the circuit of the National Park starting from 10am.
North Georgetown District 11 and Corentyne District 6 have been known to dominate the swimming and cycling competitions, respectively and are looking to defend their titles today.
District 11 will no doubt get stiff competition from Linden in the pool, as well as from East Georgetown District 12 who have been boasting that they have an improved swimming team and will also be looking to be a force to reckoned with.
For the first year all of the cycling events, save for the 40km road race, will be held on one-day and at one location, separate from the track events. The 40km cycling road race will be held on Friday at 10am, commencing and concluding outside of Oceanview Hotel on the East Coast of Demerara.
Following today’s activities,the Championships will continue tomorrow with the opening ceremony at 10.00hrs at the National Stadium.
The much anticipated track and field events finally get underway at the same venue. The day will see the heats in the 400m and quite a few of the field events being contested.
Athletics will continue at the Stadium through to Friday from 9:30am daily.
A total of fifteen districts will be contesting the Championships in four competitions,namely the athletics, swimming, cycling and teachers competitions. The event will see the participation of student athletes and teachers from all across Guyana.
Upper Demerara/Kwakwani District 10 is the defending champion-of-champions.