THE 2019 Edition of the Aliann Pompey Invitational (API) Track and Field, set for July 6 at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, is expected to produce some fireworks, according to the organisers.

Held in honour of Guyana’s 2002 Commonwealth gold medallist, Aliann Pompey for the past four years, the AP Invitational has been one of the region’s meets on the calendar for some of the Caribbean’s top athletes and this year will be no different.

At a press conference held yesterday at the National Racquet Centre, Pompey highlighted some of the different things that athletes and fans can expect this year.

With financial support from local firm Sentinel Security Inc., US$1000 would be given to every Guyanese female athlete who breaks a national record at the event.
“So the additional incentive I think is something very positive, and that’s in addition to any prize money. So if they win an event and break a national record the US dollars is in addition to that prize structure,” Pompey explained.

“At the start of the meet we’ll also have a few events where high school athletes would be able to share the platform with the international athletes, so that’s something we’re looking forward to as well.”

Pompey added that while the headline act would be revealed shortly, confirmation has been had from most of the overseas-based local athletes, who had signalled their intention to compete next month.

“Just yesterday (Thursday) actually, Aliyah Abrams, running for South Carolina at the NCAA Finals ran a 51.51s, so I think I’ll say goodbye to my national record from now, because it going, going, gone soon. Arinze Chance, also at South Carolina, opened their 4×400 in 45 seconds, so the Men’s 400 and the Women’s 400m, along with long jump would be staple events at this meet this year,” Pompey informed.

Joining Pompey to pull off this event are Guyana Olympic Association, Banks DIH Limited, the Athletics Association of Guyana, IAAF, ConSudAtle, Ministry of Education, SleepIn Hotel and Casino, Star Party Rentals, National Sports Commission, Quality Plus Fast Foods and the Ministry of Communities.

The event will commence with an official opening ceremony at 15:00hrs, after which the athletes hit the synthetic surface at Leonora.

At the 2018 AP Invitational, the crowd stood in ‘awe’ as Kirani James, 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.

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.