The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will run off its long-awaited annual athletics championship today at the Camp Ayanganna sports ground from 10.30am.
After a series of postponements due to the Linden protests last month, sporting fans can expect all the thrills and excitement it usually expects from the meet as the GDF stands ready to defend its crown. The infusion of new recruits such as Letitia Myles, Delon DeAbreu and Darren Fraser is also expected to great a big impact on the outcome of the games.
The GDF is said to be the sprinting club of the nation, boasting Rupert Perry, Quinse Clarke, Patrick King, Jermaine Newton, Akeem Stewart and Leslain Baird among its members, all of whom have dominated at the Inter-Services Athletic Championships (ISAC) or have made their mark on the national scene.
However, with both Clarke and Perry suffering injuries at a high performance training centre in Jamaica earlier in the year in their pursuit of Olympic qualifications, they are not expected to participate in the games. In an invited interview with Stabroek Sport their coach Robert Chisholm was unsure of their status.
This will leave the sprints wide open with the most likely candidate to take the top spot being King who has proven that he can run 100-400 metres. However, Stewart, Fraser and DeABreu are likely to give king a tough fight for the titles, adding to the excitement for fans.
Meanwhile Myles is expected to be the top female GDF sprinter after having proven time and again that she can run and beat the best of her comrades in uniform. Long distance runner Cleveland Forde is expected to rake from the 800-5000 metres at the event as the national record holder is still the best distance athlete that Guyana has to offer.
Ashanti Scott is expected to replicate Forde’s performances in the middle to long distance events as she is seemingly the best female distance athlete in the GDF. Scott can expect tough competition from Karlissa Atkins.
While the army men and women are not known for their field events at the ISAC, they still boast Guyana’s top javelin thrower in Baird who consistently improves at the every event. He will lead his division in the field events. The GDF is expected to select their team for the ISAC championships from today’s performances.
