District 7, Bartica, is rearing to go as the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU)/Ministry of Education’s 52nd Annual National Schools Track and Field, Cycling and Swimming Championships draw near.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport via telephone yesterday, District 7’s Sports Chairman/Team Manager, Leon Stewart, said his team members are all fired up to take on the rest of the districts by storm.
“The athletes have been training very hard every day of the week including Saturdays and Sundays and are now just waiting to take on the opposition,” Stewart stated.
According to Stewart, District 7 will contest all four championships (Track and Field, Cycling, Swimming and Teachers) and he is confident that his charges will give a good account of themselves.
Stewart informed that District 7’s best overall placing at the championships was back in 2006 when they placed second overall at the GCC ground, Bourda.
He said for the past six or seven years, District 7 has been averaging fourth overall.
Asked how the team has been responding to training sessions, Stewart’s response was, “I think I can safely say over 90 percent of the athletes have been attending training sessions and I have seen tremendous improvement from most of them,” adding, “We’re ready to go, we don’t back down at these championships, so when we come for the championships, other Districts wonder what we are coming with, they just don’t know what to expect.”
Stewart said despite District 7 not having the facilities as District 11 or District 10, they make do with what they have, so they are determined to prove their worth.
According to the team manager, the team of 104 athletes and six officials will arrive in Georgetown on November 17 for the championships which begins two days later.
He informed that yesterday was the first day for registration of teams and this will come to an end tomorrow.
Among the athletes expected to give account of themselves are; Feona Mentis and Carmel Williams in the teachers under-40 long jump and 80-metre track events.
Stewart informed that both Mentis and Williams returned record breaking performances in their two events at last year’s championships.
Other teachers who are expected to give a good account of themselves are; Clifton Bobb in the teachers under-21 field events, Festus Benn (90-metre and long jump) under-40 and Hilbert Knights (shot-put and discus) under-40.
Shawn Caesar (field events) boys under-20, Derika Marshall (100, 200 and 400 metres) under-12, Keifon Jack (100 and 200 metres) boys under-10 and Cornell Playtner (100 and 200 metres, long and triple jumps) under-16.
In the cycling events, Stewart is anticipating good performances from Corin Chase (800, 1000 and 1500-metre), Victoria Wong (1500, 2000 and 3000-metre) and Rondel Lopes (1000, 2000 and 3000-metre).
In the swimming championships, Stewart named Daniel Jeffrey (50-metre free and back strokes), Recia Toris (50-metre free and back strokes), Brittina Simmons (50-metre free and back strokes) and Andrew Simmons (50-metre butterfly, breast stroke and 50-metre freestyle.

(By Michael Da Silva)