Flashback: Athletes battle in last year’s event
With the aim of spreading athletics to as far and wide in Guyana as possible, the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) is trying its best to achieve that goal. Today the first part of that objective is set to be achieved with the staging of the annual season opening Cross Country race in New Amsterdam, Berbice.
Officials from the AAG were up to late Friday afternoon in the Ancient County of Berbice trying to finalize logistical and other arrangements with the local organisers in an effort to put everything in place. The New Amsterdam United Conquerors Athletics Club is the local organisers in Berbice.
Speaking to the media Vice President and PRO of the club, Buster Wright, stated that the six miles event, which will circle the perimeters of New Amsterdam, will move off from the Esplanade Park at 15:00 hrs.
He said that the athletes will head into Garrison Road between the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) and the New Amsterdam Hospital, through to the back of Tucber Park into High Dam, turn right on Vryheid Public Road, left up the Republic Road (back dam), through 60 Stanleytown into Strand (Water Street) and back to the Esplanade Park for the finish.
There will be categories for seniors and juniors for both male and female athletes. The juniors will however not run the full course; they instead of turning up Republic Road will cut across Philadelphia Street (High Bridge) into Strand to end at Esplanade Park.
Cleveland Thomas is the defending champion.
Race coordinators include former national athletics champion Thomas Bowman, Collie Mickle and Henry Shepherd. Officials from the AAG including President Aubrey Hutson are expected to be in Berbice to help coordinate the event.
The Cross Country race is usually the qualifying race for the North American, Central American and Caribbean Cross Country race that is usually held in Trinidad and Tobago.
BY KAIETEUR NEWS