CHANTOBA Bright, the only Guyanese to medal at this year’s South American U-23 Championship, is happy with her performance in Ecuador.

Bright, who competes in the NCAA with Kansas State, finished second in the women’s Triple Jump with a distance of 13.08m, while taking the third place position in the long jump (6.09m).
It was her first time competing at the championship which started in 2004.

“Didn’t know what to expect because I was unable to train over the summer after undergoing a surgical procedure on my jump leg and I’ve only had five weeks of ground training since being back at school,” said the country’s most decorated CARIFTA Games athlete.

“I’ve done no preparation whatsoever for the meet, so I was going on previous experience, and despite all that I was still able to medal in both jumps even though it was nowhere close to my personal best,” Bright said.

Bright has a Personal Best of 6.48m in the long jump, and 13.53m; both of which she established this year.

The 21-year-old, who hails from Victory Valley Linden, reasoned that she was happy to once again be in action in the ‘pits’, adding “because summer was rough; not being able to train. I sat down for a little over two months, not being able to do anything.”

Bright lauded the support of her coach at Kansas State, and coach Johnny Gravesande, telling Chronicle Sport, “They understood what I was going through and they didn’t pressure me to go out there and perform as if I was in shape, but they were confident enough that I can go there and still manage to do well and have fun.”

“I’m blessed to have medalled and it’s sad that I was the only medallist. I would have loved for my fellow teammates to have made the podium also because it would have been better for Guyana as we try to advance the sport,” Bright said.

Meanwhile, Daniel Williams finished 7th in the 200m final (21.59s) and 5th in the 400m final (48.99s). Noelex Holder didn’t make it out of his heat in the 100m and 200m.

Joanna Archer, according to reports, was unable to make past immigration in the South American country.

Reports are that the Texas Tech athlete’s passport did not have more than the required six-month lifespan needed to enter Ecuador. She was then forced to return to New York. Archer was considered a favourite to medal in the women’s 800m.

The team was coached by Johnny Gravesande and managed by Orin Thomas.