THE Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) will start its 2026 with a cross-country race, which according to Vice President Niall Stanton is set for January 17th at the Guyana Defence Force Ground.
Stanton, speaking to the media recently said that the AAG has an ambitious plan for the new year, adding, “Our major objective this year for the AAG is to have our athletes participate in as many international events, also give our athletes exposure and hopefully our athletes can medal gold or silver at all these major events. This year is more in terms of promoting the sport, promoting our senior athletes and have more growth and hopefully it brings more sponsors on board to help promote track and field in Guyana.”
He says the junior athletes dominated the National Sports Commission (NSC) awards which means their nursery is producing the goods.
Now, the AAG wants to translate that success to the senior ranks by working with athletes, clubs, managers and coaches through a wide range of initiatives and programmes targeting further improvement in all areas of the sport.
The AAG begin their work on the track with their development meet which according to Stanton has helped a lot.
“Our developmental meet are basically to sharpen our athletes in terms of fitness, so the coaches can have an idea to fine tune the programme for the year, a main focus for the early part of the year is to have our young athletes fine-tuned and ready and prepared for the CARIFTA trails. What the athletes need to know especially the young athletes going to CARFITA, is that the qualifying period will be open very shortly and the timing for qualifying remains the same, the only changes this year is that you must qualify, if you did not qualify or make the time or distance for whatever event then you will not be selected to participate in the camp or be a part of the team.”
Starting next month (February), the body will begin the first of three CARFITA trails on the 7th followed by dates on the 21st and 28th.
The trials will culminate with a competition featuring CARFITA versus the rest, they the athletics body will hold pre camps from March 20-22 and 27-29.
The CARFITA games are scheduled for Grenada from April 4-6.
Stanton says that they will be having more fund raisers this year to garner needed funds for athlete preparation and travel to international competition.
In May, Guyana will have a chance to send a representative team World Athletics relays in Botswana which will be preceeded by the Boyce and Associates Relay.
Guyana’s Overseas-Based Sports Association championship is set for May 23 with the Burgete Williams 10k a day later.
The National Youth, Junior and Senior Championship from June 26-28 will close off the first half of the year.
Other major events scheduled for this year include, Aliann Pompey invitational in July, Commonwealth Games, Central American and Caribbean Games, One Guyana Athletics Championship in August, South American Games in September and Youth Olympic Games among others.