AN all-local star-studded cast is expected to headline the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) South American 10K, which will race off today from the village of Mary, West Coast Demerara and will conclude at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora.

The event was originally planned for Sunday December 6, but the country’s National COVID-19 Task Force and the Ministry of Health did not give the AAG permission to host what would have been their second event since restrictions were lifted in November.

Last year, Kenyan runners Alex Ekesa and Veronica Jepkosgei were able to march through a large field of local and several international athletes to win the male and female divisions of the Guyana leg in the South American 10K Road Race. Ekesa clocked 32 minutes 43 seconds to finish ahead of Guyana’s Winston Missigher, who took 32 minutes 57 seconds.

Trinidadians Matthew Hagley and Shirvan Baboolal finished third and fourth respectively, while Junior Ashton of St Vincent and the Grenadines rounded off the top five.
However, in the absence of the aforementioned overseas athletes, Missigher will come face-to-face with his usual rivals, Cleveland Forde and Cleveland Thomas. Forde had the better of Missigher in the 2018 South American 10K race while Thomas was third.

The AAG said all systems are in place for today’s race and thanked the Ministry of Health for its support and guidance in setting the health protocols for the race.