Track and Field athletes from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) are eagerly awaiting to invade the MacKenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground on a mission to capture the spoils of the Boyce/Jefford Classic Championships scheduled for August 15-16.
Last year, the soldiers placed second to the Police Sports Club (PSC) but according to GDF coach, Robert Chisolm, the athletes have worked out the chink in their armour and are looking to go one better at this year’s championships.
Said Chisolm “I think we will win because when you look around and you see the athletes that are in all the events, we stand the best chance and we have put together a reasonable team to challenge for the title.”
According to a release, Chisholm’s confidence perhaps comes from the fact that they have in their arsenal sprint ace Rupert Perry, who is the current double sprint champion, among several others. Aniqah Powley should also be one to watch from the Force.
Davin Fraser should also be impressive for the army. In the field events, Leslain Baird has been on top of his game for the past three years in the Javelin Throw while Patrick King, barring any injury, should feature in the male long jump, which he won last year.
To add to the might of the soldiers, they have recruited middle distance standout Andrea Foster and Natrena Hooper, who competes in the 200m and 400m races as well as in the long and triple jump events.
“We are looking reasonably good. I am confident in my team. In terms of preparations, we had a setback with the weather, so we did not get to put in the kind of work we wanted to, but it is not us alone, all the teams are on a level playing field,” Chisholm noted.
The coach said that with the quality team he has, there is no reason why he should not run away with the overall first place prize of $600,000.
The second place team will take home $400,000 while third and fourth gets $250,000 and $150,000 respectively.
