By Treiston Joseph
The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) will now field a seven-man squad to the 40th edition of the Carifta Games in Jamaica from April 23-25 as 100 and 200 metres junior champion, Chavez Ageday was withdrawn by his coach Raymond Daw yesterday.
Ageday, who pulled his right hamstring with some 40 metres to go in the men’s final of the 100 metres at the Under-23 games last Sunday, suffered from some muscle spasms causing the sprinter’s misfortune, according to Daw.
The decision to withdraw the explosive sprinter came yesterday as he was required by the AAG to do time trials at the Eve Leary Sports Club Ground to prove his fitness level. However, after his warm-ups Daw decided to withdraw him from the team.
“First of all it’s a tough decision that I had to make but I think it is in his best interest that he was withdrawn because had he gone to the games and done badly or pulled again then it would have been another set of speculations about him.
“I’m thinking long term for him, there are bigger games for him to attend and I know he will be back in good shape, our main goal is the Olympics and that’s what we are working towards for next year, but he’ll be
back,” Daw told Stabroek Sport yesterday. While Ageday had no comment about his withdrawal, President of the AAG, Colin Boyce commended Daw on such a wise decision, especially since he was looking to preserve the sprinter’s health. Boyce agreed that Ageday will have better opportunities once he is back in good running form.
Meanwhile, the Guyanese contingent will depart tomorrow morning for the Carifta Games and will return on April 27.
Squad: Double 1500 metres gold medalist at Carifta, Jevina Straker; 800 and 1500 metres athlete, Trevon Geroge; 400 metres specialist, Melissa Byass; 400 metres Under-23 champion, Stephan James; 5000 metres specialist, Nathaniel Giddings; and Julian Edmonds and Pamela Phillips as Coach and Team Manager respectively.
