The Neal and Massy Group of Companies will run off its second edition of their 10km road race and 3km fitness jog on September 4 at 6am.
At the launching of the event yesterday at AINLIM (Associated Industries Limited) Sports Club, Ruimveldt, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Neal and Massy, Deo Persaud, stated that the road race and fitness jog events are means of promoting fitness and good health among the Guyanese public and he invited clubs and associations and the public at large to participate.
Persaud added that if the event was successful, he would make it an annual event.
The 10km road race event will be staged in three categories – junior male and female 16 to 19 years old, senior male and female 20 to 34 years old and masters female 35 years and over and male 40 years and over.
The event will be a lucrative one as the top three finishers will receive cash and trophies while the fourth and fifth place finishers will receive hampers.
In the junior category, the winner will receive $30,000 and a trophy, second place $20,000 and a trophy and third place $10,000 and a trophy.
In the senior category the winner and first and second runner-up will receive $50,000 and a trophy, $40,000 and a trophy and $30,000 and a trophy respectively.
The top three finishers in the masters category will receive $30,000 and a trophy, $20,000 and a trophy and $10,000 and a trophy respectively.
At the briefing yesterday, Vice-President of the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG), Cornell Rose, thanked Persaud and his company for the initiative and noted that events like these encourage athletes to perform at a high level and help to boost the development of athletics in Guyana.
The 10km race is expected to attract the senior defending champs of last year’s race, 1500 and 5000 metres national record holder Cleveland Ford and distance queen Alika Morgan. The race will also attract two-time 1500 metres Carifta Games gold medalist Jevina Straker, sprint queen Alisha Fortune, Cleveland Thomas, Dennis Horatio and other top distance runners.
The race will start at AINLIM, Ruimveldt entrance and the course will then take a left turn in a westerly direction into Mandela Avenue before taking a right turn onto the East Bank carriageway when the athletes will proceed further south to the turning point at Sterling Products, Providence where the runners will journey north along the carriageway until they reach the second turning point at the Arch where the race will finish at the starting line.
Meanwhile the 3km fitness jog will start at the Demerara Harbour Bridge and conclude at the finish line at the AIMLIM entrance. Transportation will be provided for participants to be transported to the bridge.
Clubs and associations are invited to participate in both the 10km race and the 3km fitness jog. Entries for the event are free and registration closes at Olympic House on Wednesday, August 31 at 16:00hrs.
