Guyana’s Aliann Pompey failed to advance to the finals of the women’s 400m at the Beijing Olympic Games yesterday. Competing in the first of three heats Pompey finished fourth in 50.93 seconds behind heat winner Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britain, (50.14s) Shericka Williams of Jamaica (50.28) and Tatiana Firova of Russia (50.31).
The first two finishers of the three heats along with the fastest two losers will go through to tomorrow’s final.
The other qualifiers are Firova, Sanya Richards of the US (49.90) Anastasia Kapachinskaya of Russia (50.30), Yulia Guschina of Russia (50.48), Amantle Montsho of Botswana (50.54) and Rosemary Whyte of Jamaica, (50.63s).
Stabroek News - Daily Guyana News
Custom Search
She ran great races.
I agree she indeed ran a great race. I think it was her best performance.
This is amazing – the only mention of the track and field team is “Pompey eliminated from 400m final”, no story. No explanation of the race, nothing.
This is the kind of encourgement that the athletes can use.
Aliann ran two great rounds and was actually leading the race until the last 90 meters. She was also leading Sanya Richards in the first round.
Way to go Aliann … congrats on your new national record and overall showing. You, Adam (Harris), Marian (Burnett) and Niall (Roberts) have left us with proud moments …. From these performances, it’s onto greater things in times to come … Guyana’s pride was upkept by you guys on this international stage. Take a Bow1
You represented your country (Guyana) and your family very well at these Beijing Olympics games. I saw your heat and was proud to see the Goldenarrow Head.
Ms Aliann Pompey, you have done more for Guyana, on the world stage, in those 50.39secs than any political leader, ambassador or gov’t official alive today. Let me repeat that ALIVE TODAY.
If it wasn’t for people like you and your olympic teammates along with (Shiv)Chanderpaul nobody would know that Guyana exists. This distinction goes to no PPP, PNC, WPA, UF, AFC, GAP, ROAR etc. I hope they get my driff….
‘Cochore’, your statements give me the impression like we share the same brain …. like yuh barrowing meh head ‘ar whuh? …. what you wrote is so true of these athletes … they provide for Guyana what very few do … Hold on to see the features the world media is going to do on Jamaica in a few weeks … big selling of that nation will take place … and even though we likkle’ in ‘dis bizniz, Aliann, Adam, Marian and Niall still show that at least we likkle, tallawah (to borrow the Jamaicans’ phrase) .
For us to move from this to a position of strength We The People gotta’ air our voices to force the authorities to create the changes to ensure growth so soon people like ‘quickdimun’ will be able to benefit and build from this.
What I disgust is the barrage of officials accompanying the athletes who when they return lament “we didn’t get this and we didn’t get that” (meaning medals), but they (the officials) never see their shortcomings that they too were in an environment where they could have networked with the so called ’sports powers’ to get assistance and guidance through partnerships to improve our sports programs.
‘CCWLLC’ is on the ball too. The Olympics are on and all we see is an excuse for a story and it says “fail”. Editors, I think your vocab is wider than that to be able to find a better phrases to paint the tremedous efforts made, and not necessarily the failure that resulted. Few people realise how difficult it is to get to the semifinals, final and much less a medal at a global meet. I read other country’s papers and they’re saturated with stories on their people – win, lose or draw. This thing is also about exeprience in many cases. Our taxpayers’ newspaper ‘Chronicle’ carried sheer stories written by others about others and no mention of a Guyanese. I know we didn’t hit the spotlight that much, but come on, we had people there too. I saw stories about people who didn’t even do better than our athletes, and in some cases ones who weren’t even competing in Beijing. If I wanted to read those stories I could go on the internet elsewhere to do so since they were written by international correspondents for wire services and even freelancers. The newspapers didn’t even try to like visit an old school or church, mosque, temple or home or relative to do a piece.
From what I know there were four athletes there with five officials and probably more stragglers … why so many non competitors? For Aliann and Marian especially who have taken Guyana on their backs this long with top qualifications to international events, couldn’t they authorities even think about assisting them to take a family member like a parent knowing their backgrounds. I can say so much more but space wont permit, so I rest my case for now …. Keep On Track On, ATHLETES!!!
With greatest respect to Pompey, she is a great athlete, but I must say she should have drawn on her past experiences and spend the last few years perfecting her run because 400 metres is a measured race and should be tackled in sections. The first 200 get your speed up, next 100 where the bends are run it hard and maintain speed and the last 100 when everyone is levelled out, you should have enough in the tank to carry you through to the line. Having said all that WELL DONE! to POMPEY
A proud Guyanese I am , taking into consideration what was provided for you guys to work with (almost nothing) just getting there was an accomplishment. Aliann and Mirian over the past fifteen years you have kept our colours aloft on the international stage and as the sun begins to set on your respective careers I ponder our future. For sustained consistency and longevity the two of you easily represents the two most outstanding track athletes Guyana has produced and replacements would not come that easy. No national honour is too big for either of you and I sincerely hope the powers that be share my sentiment. As you both ride off into the sunset I wish you the best that life has to offer because you deserve the best. You gave it your all, I am satisfied, well satisfied…
Ms Pompey did well. What is mind-boggling is that she got so little coverage in your/our news. This is a young woman, who certainly has potential, and I do hope that she gets an opportunity, to showcase her talent.
What can I say…the more and more I look at track and field on a national and international level the Guyana flag is slowly being posted up for the world to see. You four guys did us proud.. I can’t wait for 2012. I expect to see those numbers double and before you know it someone will be standing on the medal stand, singing (Dear Land Of Guyana)……You make me proud, and you show other that it is possible to become an Olympian with the name Guyana pinned you chest…God bless