THE Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) yesterday released the names of the athletes on the 50-man team that will be representing Guyana at this weekend’s South American Junior Championships to be held at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora.

Not surprisingly the team is led by CARIFTA Games gold medallists Compton Caesar, Claudrice McKoy, Chantoba Bright, and silver medallist Anfernee Headecker, as well as South American Youth Championships multiple silver medallist Daniel Williams.
All of the other athletes who represented Guyana at this year’s CARIFTA Games are also on the team. Overall, the list contains almost all of Guyana’s top, seasoned junior athletes, and then some, as the local side looks to maximise participation, with 21 females and 29 males.
“This will be the biggest team that will represent Guyana at any meet. We’ve never before had a team of 50 athletes represent Guyana on any occasion,” team manager Cornel Rose boasted yesterday, during a press conference held by the local organising committee.
The athletes have intermittently been training together over the last four weekends, under a pool of coaches from across Guyana’s top athletics clubs, and from all reports spirits and expectations are high among the team, with just a few days to go.
“We expect our fair share of medals being that we’re on home turf and this team has been prepared like no other before that I can recall, and I’ve been around for a while.
“We’ve had four weekends of camps and the sessions were great. The athletes are all in high spirit, and based on the times that they’ve been doing we can expect medals, not just silver and bronze but our fair share of gold,” coach Julian Edmonds said.

Meanwhile, when questioned about athletes being housed at the National Gymnasium during their training stints, after a photo of the athletes sleeping on the facilities bleachers circulated on social media, AAG president Aubrey Hutson said while the situation left much to be desired, it was the best that could be had under current circumstances.
“Yes the ideal thing may have been to put them up at the Marriott (Hotel), but we have to understand that it’s one financial pie that we have to share, and how we distribute those finances is that in some areas we’re going to have to make cutbacks, in some areas we will be able to do better than what was previously done,” Hutson stated.
“I have never had complaints about the Gymnasium being not suitable. Matter of fact I’ve never heard the athletes complain that it was too hot. We try to do the best that we can under the present circumstances for the development of this sport and hence the Gymnasium was chosen. It wasn’t the ideal place of choice, but based on the prevailing circumstances I think it was the best that we could have done.”

Guyana will be competing in all of the events with the exception of the female hurdles, steeplechase, heptathlon and hammer throw, which are events that Guyana does not conventionally participate in. However, the Land of Many Waters was able to source athletes to represent in the male steeplechase, hurdles, decathlon and hammer throw.
The full team is as follows:
GIRLS:
Kenisha Phillips (100m, 200m, 4x 100m), Onasha Rogers (100m, 200m, 4x100m), Avon Samuels (400m, 4x400m, 4x100m), Collia Rowe (400m, 4x400m), Joanna Archer (800m), Claudrice McKoy (1500m), Serena Williams (1500m), Leyanna Charles (3000m), Kezra Murray (3000m), Delecia Harper (5000m), Tatyana Blair (high jump), Shontel Browne (high jump), Chantoba Bight (long jump, triple jump), Ruth Sanmoogan (long jump, triple jump), Mian McPherson (shot put, discus), Kimbily Hilliman (javelin), Jamecia Scott (discus), Cassie Small (relay), Tonya Rawlins, Tiffauna Garnett, Tandika Haynes (relay)

BOYS:
Compton Caesar (100m, 200m, 4x100m, 4x400m), Tyrell Peters (100m, 200m, 4x100m), Anfernee Headecker (800m, 1500m, 4x400m), Daniel Williams (400m, 4x400m, high jump), Laurindo Prince (400m, 4x400m), Terrence Fraser (400m hurdles), Hosea Glen (400m hurdles), Samuel Lynch (800m, 4x400m), Ruel Chester (1500m), Ronaldo Wishart (3000m, steeplechase), Nigel Gonsalves (3000m, steeplechase), Matthew McKenzie (5000m), Rondell Newton (5000m), Rickie Williams (10000m), Joshua Williams (10000m), Tortque Boyce (high jump), Tremaine Browne (long jump, triple jump), Anthony Williams (long jump, triple jump), Ronaldo Greene (triple jump), Jermaine Simmons (shot put, discus), Timothy Sealey (shot put, javelin), Tremaine Beckles (javelin, discus), Jonathan Garnett (relay), Jermaine King (relay), Ryan Bramble (relay), Stayon Wilson (relay), Denise Roberts (decathlon), Tevin Nicholson (race walk), Jonathan Copeland (hammer throw).