THE top athletes in Region 9 will all converge on the Tapachinga Sports Complex ground tomorrow and Sunday, hoping to be selected to represent the Region at the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) CARIFTA Games trials. Set for March 7 and 8, the AAG will seek to have the best possible athletes represent Guyana at the 2015 CARIFTA Games in St Kitts and Nevis on April 4 and 5.

It is on that backdrop the Region 9 Athletics Club is hoping to have several athletes from the hinterland on the Guyanese contingent.
President of the AAG, Aubrey Hudson, along with representatives from the ministries of Sport and Amerindian Affairs is expected to witness what coordinator Sugereem Singh is calling a showdown of the region’s best athletes.
Speaking to Chronicle Sport yesterday Singh, a former chairman of the Region 9 Athletics Club, said that all systems are in place for the weekend’s event, noting, “We have everything in place and the ground is in great condition. I heard that it’s raining in Georgetown but up here, it’s great weather and we’re hoping to have an exciting meet. The athletes are excited and so are we, to see them perform so that Region 9 can have the best athletes at the CARIFTA trials next week.”
According to Singh, Chairman of the Region 9 Athletics Club Kenrick Lewis is also enthusiastic about a successful event this weekend.
Meanwhile, apart from the athletes competing for medals and trophies, Singh said that Lethem businessman Lincoln Lamazon donated $60 000 to the club which will provide incentives to the athletes.
Winners of the 5 000m, 3000m and U-20 200m male and female races will each pocket $10 000 and Singh said: “We’re very grateful to Mr Lamazon for the donation. I believe that this will add a little more flair to the meet and the athletes will put a little more effort and hopefully it will bring out the best in them”.
It is the hope of the Region 9 Athletics Club to send a maximum of 10 athletes and other officials to Georgetown for the CARIFTA trials.

(By Rawle Toney)