… 2019 Edition set for July 6
THE 2019 Edition of the Aliann Pompey Invitational will be held on July 6, at the National Track and Field Centre, with the organisers this year targeting a return of Kirani James and 100m World Champion Justin Gatlin as the headline acts.
With Pan Am Games set for July 26 in Peru, and IAAF World Championship scheduled for September 28 in Doha, Qatar, scores of athletes from around the world who usually converge on Guyana, will be given a chance to make the required qualifying standard times and distances in order to make their country’s team.
According to Aliann Pompey, the legendary Guyanese track and field star in whose honour the event is held, the goal of the Invitational is to continue to provide the platform to enable Guyanese, regional and international track & field communities to qualify for a number of international games and events, including the Olympic Games.
Last year, Kirani James was the headliner, but this time around, along with the Grenadian, Pompey said that reigning world 100 metres champion Justin Gatlin is a target. However, she pointed out that several factors (mostly corporate support) will go into deciding who will touch the shores of Guyana;
Last year, the crowd at the Aliann Pompey Invitational stood in ‘awe’ as the 2012 Olympic Champion and 2016 Olympic silver medallist clocked 44.99 seconds to not only win the ‘AP’ Invitational 400 metres, but also set a new ‘Track Record’.
Prior to last year, Guyana’s Winston George ran 45.16 seconds at the 2017 AP Invitational, which was then the fastest time ever at the National Track and Field Centre, and also a national record.
Emanuel Archibald ran a blistering 10.29 seconds to win the men’s 100 metres event ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Kyle Greaux (10.39 seconds) and Yancarlos Martinez of the Dominican Republic (10.43 seconds).
Greaux would, however, return to win the men’s 200 metres with a time of 20.43 seconds, while Martinez was second (20.80 seconds) and George third in 20.87 seconds.
Donald Scott spoiled Troy Doris’ home coming in the men’s triple jump as the American leaped 17.22 metres to take the title ahead of Cuba’s Christian Napoles (16.96 metres) and Suriname’s Miguel Van Assen (16.67 metres).
