By Joe Chapman

LINDEN’S very own Marian Joan Burnett is back in her hometown on holiday, as she ponders her next move towards allowing young athletes acquire the necessary assistance to aspire to representing Guyana at the highest levels in athletics.

Burnett is one such athlete who would have understood the benefit of opportunities out there for athletes in need from countries like Guyana.
She got her break to Essex County College back in 1999 after showing some resilience after glimpses of her talent sparked when she ran the second fastest time going into the finals of the 800 metres at the Barbados-held Central America and Caribbean Games; but failed to medal. She bounced back to capture a bronze medal in the 1 500 metres, taking to the track against her the doctor’s advice as she was not feeling well.

From there it was no turning back as she graced the international scene thereafter to be Linden’s most decorated athlete.
At Essex, Burnett won 10 national titles in just two years and was on the Essex County 4×800-metre relay team that set a junior college national record in 2000.
The 16-time All-American won the indoor and outdoor 800-metre titles in each of her two years at Essex County College and was selected the Most Outstanding Athlete at the 2000 NJCAA Indoor Championships after winning three gold medals and two silver medals.

She graduated from Essex with a 3.16 GPA and was selected as a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship.
Coming from Essex County to Louisiana State University, it was rare that an athlete entering the NCAA Division 1 would register at such a high position in such a prolific fashion.

Fans would recall in 2002 that the Guyanese track star was among several National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champions honoured by then U.S. President George W. Bush at a Champions Day ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C. This time, Burnett’s feat was not on the track, instead it was ‘as a result of her outstanding sports performances.

And Burnett took the opportunity to let the world know that there exists a country called Guyana of which she is proud.
In March 2002, Burnett had won LSU’s first-ever NCAA indoor 800m champion title, and anchored the 4x400m relay squad to 3rd place to largely contribute to the Lady Tigers winning the champion team honours.

And the middle-distance track star, competing in the South Eastern Conference (SEC) of the U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) track and field circuit, had claimed the number one ranking at 800 metres following a string of impressive showings.

Burnett vividly remembers she had to run to make the qualifying time for the Athens Olympics. There were two times – the B Standard which was 2:01 and the A Standard 2:00.
According to Burnett she was the best in Guyana and they could have taken her to run in the ‘B’ Standard. But it was reported that the US-based athlete Marian Burnett would not represent Guyana in Athens if she does not upgrade her `B’ standard qualifying time to `A’ standard.

The Amateur Athletic Association of Guyana (AAA) stated categorically that it is the association’s policy that no overseas-based athletes will be able to represent Guyana at the Olympics or any other major international meet, if they do not attain the required `A’ standard qualifying time.

This surfaced in the press and the question was asked if the AAA will revisit its policy, with regard to having Burnett represent Guyana at the Athens, Greece Olympics with her `B’ standard qualifying time?

At that time it was reported also that local coaches were against the idea of the AAA sending overseas-based athletes to these meets with the `B’ standard, in preference of local athletes who have no sort of facility for training and who need the exposure on internationally accepted tracks.
But, Burnett answered her critics and at the Palo Ato, Memorial Games in California, USA she clocked 1:59.47, on 31st May, 2004 to break the National 800 metres record and thus securing her place for the Athens, Greece Olympics in 2004.

Burnett also holds the National record over 1,500m for women with a time of 4:17.91 achieved on 27th July 2007, at the Pan American Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and the National 800 metres Indoor record also.
Looking back at her pursuits Burnett said; “I went to Essex County College in 1999 and in 2001 to LSU until 2004.

“It was different because in Guyana you run on the road and the grass but when you go to Essex County you run on a track. We did not get a track and we trained on the gym floor when we got there and go to a park which was about a mile away. Run to the Park and work out there.

“Then we get one meal ticket to go and eat meal. If you needed academic assistance you could have gotten it but I did not need that. I was a little bit nervous but I did pretty well.
“In Junior College she obtained an Associate of Science Degree in June 2001, majoring in Physical Education and after she continued the programme at LSU with Bachelor of Science Degree in June 2004, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology in December 2004” Burnet reminisced.

Burnett won a bronze medal in the 800m at that year’s Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC) in 2010 in Puerto Rico after not being in the best of health.
The mother of two, Anita aged 8 and Aden who is 10 years old, is now employed at LSU as a strategy tutor with athletes. She says: “My job is to ensure the students stay on top of their academics, make sure they don’t miss any exams, make sure they prepare for the exams and I do one-on-one sessions or group sessions every day.”

She has graced every international meet in the world of athletics be it the Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games, Central and Caribbean Games, World Indoor Championships, World Championships, South American Games, Pan American Games, Olympic Games in 2004 and 2008 where she reached the semifinals both times, among other big meets in Greece, Brazil, the United States of America, the Caribbean, Europe, Germany, Spain, Russia, Hungary, Dominican Republic, United Kingdom, Barbados, Finland, Australia, Japan, China, and Puerto Rico.

“So with my job I get the type of kids that are capable of doing it, but they are lazy. And if they are to graduate I am the one that must ensure they do not quit. And at times they are the ones that just don’t care.

“So I have to use my athletic ability and use my experience because I was once a student-athlete, so it is easy for me to relate to the student athletes. And I don’t mind going to their level to get them to do it,” she continued.

The former policewoman recalls having to leave Linden to join the Guyana Police Force to get the necessary support needed to perform at the highest level and credits this to former Commissioner of Police Laurie Lewis, who backed her throughout her stint there and facilitated her leave to take up the scholarship at Essex County College.

The two-time Guyana ‘Sportswoman-of-the-Year’ winner is keen on giving back to athletes who are willing to excel both academically and on the field and will do her best to ensure they are given a chance of a lifetime as she had back in 1999.