Today’s Development meet a qualifier for CARIFTA Games and Pan Am….

Leslain Baird is aiming to throw over the 70-metre mark today. The national record holder who has ruled the roost in the male javelin category over the past five years, is looking to record persona bests this year.
Leslain Baird is aiming to throw over the 70-metre mark today. The national record holder who has ruled the roost in the male javelin category over the past five years, is looking to record persona bests this year.

The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) will stage its fourth development meet of the 2019 season today at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

Athletes are scheduled to get into the blocks from 09:00hrs.

At the three previous development meets held at the GDF, Blairmont & Enmore Grounds were gauges for all athletes at the start of 2019. Today’s event will be a qualifier for the CARIFTA Games for juniors, the first of three qualifiers. The seniors will also have a chance to qualify for international meets such as the Pan American Seniors.

With qualification opportunities available, the competition is expected to be high with over 240 athletes expected to compete.

An entrance fee of $200 will be charged for patrons coming to view the action.

Standout athletes like javelin record holder Leslain Baird in addition to rising stars in Cassie Small, Tonya Rawlins, Davin Fraser, Akeem Stewart, Daniel Melville, Tortique Boyce and Deshanna Skeete are expected to take centre stage.

Baird is aiming to throw over the 70-metre mark.

The national record holder who has ruled the roost in male javelin category over the past five years, is looking to record personal bests this season.

However, the Guyana Defense Force athlete highlighted yesterday what he is hoping to accomplish.

“I am looking forward to seeing a lot of athletes come out and make the qualifying times and marks for CARIFTA as well have the seniors try to qualify for the other competitions later in the year.

“As for me my aim is to open my season on the rubber track with 70+ throws, reason being that I have been throwing on grass for the past five months so I have to get acquainted back to the rubber; also I am still getting stronger and its early in the season so knowing that Pan Am and Worlds are late, I am taking my time so as to not get burn out too early like what happened to me last year” Baird noted.

Nevertheless, Baird shared that there is more work to be done and his is remaining focused with a strong team behind him.

“There is a lot of work to be done so me and my coaches Robert Chisholm, Rawle Griffith and Julian Edmonds are working on my technique to get even stronger and more flexible this year,” Baird mentioned.

Baird will be competing in the javelin and the discus events.