The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is looking to maintain its lead and widen its margin of victory in this year’s armed forces and militant operatives sport event which starts today at the Camp Ayanagnna ground.
The GDF drew first blood when it won the road relay Sunday morning and competition is heating up for the three-day event which starts at 10.30am.
Last year the army won by one point and will be looking to capitalise on its home field advantage against rival the Guyana Police Force (GPF). As in previous years, the police will be looking to make their biggest impact in the field events, utilising the talents of Julio Caesar, Ronald Payne, Natasha Alder and Alita Moore to gain the upper hand.
Alder, the two-time Athletic Association of Guyana Female Athlete of the Year is expected to dominate in the discus, shot putt and both the long and triple jumps while Moore is expected to pull her weight in the long and triple jumps. Both Payne and Caesar should dominate the men’s shot putt and discus throws for the GPF. The army will also have some firepower in the field events as Leslain Baird, who won the javelin thron two years in a row, is expected to make his presence felt on the field. Patrick King can also be relied upon to deliver in the men’s long jump.
In the track events, the GDF will field a strong men’s team to run the police out of title contention. The army’s barrage of male sprinting talent is unequalled and might be the determining factor in the championships on Friday. The team boasts talent such as Rupert Perry, Quinse Clarke and Akeem Stewart who will pose a big problem for the GPF’s main sprinter Olympian Winston George.
On the distaff side, the GDF team also comprises Guyana’s most famous distance athlete Cleveland Forde along with Tyshon Bentick and Jamaal Chisholm who both can hold their own. Therefore, the police will have to rely heavily on Dennis Horatio to stay among the top finishers in the distance events.
The police women are the strong favourites to win the track events. The team will counter strike with a strong attack from Nadine Rodrigues, Alita Moore, Leota Bobb and Shannah Thornhill against the GDF’s newest addition Letitia Myles and long standing member Rushelle Coates and Tiffany Smith. Myles will be a boon to the police women in the 100 and 200 metres while Smith is expected to put in a good showing in the 400 metres.
While the GDF and GPF are the two powerhouses expected to lock horns to tussle for the championships, the Guyana Fire Service and the prison guards are also expected to give
