Fitness Express, Guyana’s leading supplement and gym equipment supplier is the latest corporate sponsor to sign on to the third and final leg of the South American 10k event scheduled for Sunday.
CEO of the Sheriff Street entity, Jamie McDonald, yesterday jumped at the opportunity to positively impact the event and presented a sponsorship cheque to the organisers of the fixture.
McDonald, who has been one of the leading benefactors for sporting events and athletes in Guyana, stated that having run the 0k in the past, he thought “it is great time to get onboard and help in whatever way we could.”
He stated that he knows the sacrifice the runners make in preparing for such a grueling event and was happy to be a sponsor.
President of the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG), Aubrey Hutson thanked “Jamie and Fitness Express for coming on board,” and added that the sponsorship will provide “a major boost to the athletes.”
The finale of the 20th edition of the fixture is set to run off at 15:30hrs.
According to Hutson, in keeping with the formula of World Athletics, this year’s edition of the race will see the runners going against the traffic.
The event will start at Montrose on the East Coast of Demerara and finish in the National Park near the gym’s entrance.
Hutson reasoned that the change will make the event more marketable and minimize traffic incursion.
“The course will be locked down and we won’t have any bicycles or buses dodging around our athletes.”
Traditionally, the event ran off from the GTT Earth Station on CARIFESTA Avenue, proceeds to UG road and finish inside the National Park near the Children’s Monument.
Hutson also disclosed that he expects in excess of 200 athletes from South America, the Caribbean and of course Guyana competing for spoils at the event which has a budget in the neighborhood of $US60,000.
US$1000 will be awarded to the top senior finishers in the men and women’s categories. As an added incentive, the winner of these races will also receive a medal made of Guyana’s famous gold.
The first, second, third and fourth runners up will pocket $US600, $400, $US300 and US$200 along with trophies respectively.
Junior athletes (16-20 years) as well as Masters (Women 35+),
Men (40-55) and (56 and above) will also take home trophies and cash prizes.
The top four juniors will receive vouchers or grants valued at US$100, US$75, US$50 and US$25 while the top four Masters (Women 35+), and Men (40-55) will run off with GY$20,000 GY$12,000 and GY$8,000 respectively. Masters (56 and above) top three finishers will collect G$15,000, G$1,000 and G$5,000 in that order.
