THE Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) will host their fourth development meet of the year today, at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.
Today’s meet will be a chance for juniors to qualify for the Carifta Games; their first of three chances while the seniors will also have a chance to qualify for games such as the Pan American Seniors.

With qualification opportunities available the competition is expected to be tough with over 240 athletes likely to participate.
Big names such as Javelin record-holder Leslain Baird in addition to rising stars in Cassie Small, Tonya Rawlins, Davin Fraser, Akeem Stewart, Daniel Melville, Tortique Boyce and Deshanna Skeete are expected to take centre-stage when action starts at 09:00hrs.

National javelin record-holder Leslain Baird is aiming to throw over the 70-metre mark. Baird, who has ruled the roost in male javelin over the past five years, is looking to lift his standard this year by taking competitions in stride.

Baird gave his thoughts for today’s competition, “I am looking forward to seeing a lot of athletes come out and make the qualifying times and marks for the Carifta Games as well as the seniors trying to qualify for the other competitions later down in the year.”

“As for me, my aim is to open my season on rubber (synthetic track) with 70m+ throws, reason being that I have been throwing on grass for the past five months so I have to get acquainted back to the rubber. I am still getting stronger and it’s early in the season, so knowing that Pan Am and World Championships are late, I am taking my time so as not to get burned out too early like what happened to me last year at CAC Games,” Baird noted.

Nevertheless, Baird shared that there is more work to be done and he is remaining focussed with a strong team behind him.
“There is a lot of work to be done so my coaches Robert Chisholm, Rawle Griffith and Julian Edmonds are working on my technique to get me even stronger and more flexible this year,” Baird maintained.

Baird will be throwing the javelin and the discus today when the event kicks off at 09:00hrs.
A small entrance fee of $200 will also be charged for patrons coming to view the action.