The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) dynamic sprint duo of Rupert Perry and Quinse Clark, is looking forward to making their Olympics debut when the 2012 London Olympics runs off from July 27 to August 12.
With the President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Colin Boyce mentioning to this newspaper in an earlier interview that efforts were being made to get the two sprinters to Jamaica or Trinidad for a training stint so they can realize their dreams, it seems that both sprinters’ destiny will depend on how well they perform from now until July 8 which is the cutoff point to make the Olympics qualifying standards.
The qualifying times for the 100 metres are 10.18s and 10.24s ‘A’ and ‘B’ standard respectively while the 200 metres will be 20.55s and 20.65s ‘A’ and ‘B’ standard respectively.
“I’m looking to represent my country at the highest stage; I’m looking to go to the Olympic Games…so right now my focus is on working very hard.
“I have been training through the offseason and I’m looking to get qualified for the Olympics,” Clarke told Stabroek Sport confidently.
Perry, who is the reigning senior sprint champion told Stabroek Sport of his ambition for 2012.
“Well I want 2012 to be the best year for me on the track, I want to run faster timings in both my races but mainly focusing on my 200 metres and I want to qualify for the Olympics in August so I have to work harder than ever,” Perry said.
Both sprinters made their mark at the Joint Services sports in 2009, with Clarke being the dominant of the two as he defeated then sprinting prodigy from Police, Michael Saul both in the 100 and 200 metres with Perry taking a backseat that year.
Perry then started his climb to fame in 2010, ending the year by establishing a new joint services 200 metres record at 20.8s while having a close finish with Clark in the 100 metres.
Clarke duly broke the 100 metres record set the new mark at 10.4s at that year’s Joint Services sports.
The two continued their dominance throughout last year with the Guyana Police Force athlete, Winston George, who has already qualified for the 400 metres at the Olympics, being their only major nemesis.
However, Perry settled all lingering issues as to who is the best combo sprinter by claiming the 100 and 200 metres at the 2011 Joint Services sports with record breaking times of 10.2s and 20.1s in the 100 and 200 metres respectively.
Meanwhile, Clarke, who is a 100 metres bronze medalist at the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) Games had a groin injury late last season and expects that he would be fully fit by the end of January for any competition.
“Well it’s getting stronger, my coach and the physiotherapist, we are working with it. I started back doing track work and I’m continuing doing strength work. It’s not in tip top shape but it’s getting stronger and by this month-end I should be fit and ready for competition,” the former Joint Services 100 metres record holder stated.
Both athletes are hopeful about attending training stints outside of Guyana and Perry explained what such a venture can do for him.
“I think training in Trinidad or Jamaica will help to improve my athletic performances to a much greater level and standard. I will gain much more exposure than just visiting both of the countries for just a weekend.
“I will be competing every weekend so that will help me to run faster and gain much more experience than running on local soil,” the sprint champion stated.
With the Olympics slowly approaching it is just left to be seen how both of the sprinters will progress in the lead up to the world’s greatest athletics stage.
