The Jamaican, Bahamian and Trinidadian athletes have arrived for the sixth staging of the Boyce/Jefford Track and Field Classic this weekend in Linden.
Amongst the arrivals introduced to media operatives yesterday at the Guyana Olympic Association were Bahamian sprinter, Petra McDonald, Trinidad middle distance athletes, Dawnel Collymore and Ashton Gill and Jamaican sprinters, Nicholas Maitland, Keno Burrell and Seidatha Palmer.
Palmer and McDonald will match strides with the local female athletes in the 100m and 200m events while Maitland and Burrell will compete in the male 200m race. Collymore and Gill are 800m and 1500m runners.
According to coaches of the two outfits Patrick Dawson (Jamaica) and Kelvin Nancoo (Trinidad), their charges are keen on doing their best.
Said Nancoo “Ashton is really the under-20 champion in Trinidad and Tobago, he is unbeaten in the 800 and 1500m this year. Dawnel is top tier, she’s the third best when we talk about women. We are here to do our best.”
Dawson who coaches sprint events in the Racer’s Track Club (Usain Bolt trains with Racers) told the media that “we are here with this small contingent to do our best. We are here to fully represent Jamaica.”
Meanwhile, principal sponsors for the fixture Digicel and ANSA McAL through their respective representatives, Gavin Hope and Anjeta Hinds welcomed the athletes to Guyana.
Hinds who hails from the Land of Wood and Water, stated that the Jamaican presence has caused some excitement and she envisions keen rivalries during the weekend of competition. She also hinted that a synthetic track for Linden is in the pipeline.
Hope thanked the touring contingents for “gracing us with your presence” but warned that the home grown athletes will “give a good account of themselves.”
The top three finishers in each international event will be awarded cash prizes, with the winner being rewarded with $50,000.
The top club will pocket $600,000 while the runners up will take home $400,000, $250,000 and $150,000 respectively.
Competition on the first day begins at noon while athletes will get in the blocks at 14:00hrs on the following day. Admission is $1000. Gate prizes will be up for grabs.
As customary, the champion male and female athlete will receive $50,000 and trophy. Athletes are allowed to enter a maximum of three events. On your marks.
