‘Carifta Team vs. the Rest’ set for Leonora Track on Saturday

Having selected their 23-member squad for the impending Carifta Games, the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) will undertake an additional preparatory period for the locally based contingent with the staging of two slated ‘Carifta Team vs. The Rest’ meets.

The first ‘Carifta Team vs. The Rest’ meet will run off this Saturday (March 2) and Sunday (March 3) at the National Track & Field Centre (NTFC) at Leonora, West Coast Demerara. This is the first of two meets, with the second slated for March 16 and 17 at the same venue.

The likes of ‘Golden Girl’ Tianna Springer, Malachi Austin, Javon Roberts, Athaleyah Hinckson, and others who have all made the cut will be hopeful of further improving in their respective events ahead of the Carifta Games, which will run from March 30-April 1 in Grenada at the Kirani James Stadium in St. George’s.

Speaking to Stabroek Sports, AAG President Amanda Hermonstine explained that while the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and the National Sports Commission have already made donations towards the financial aspect of getting the Carifta Games contingent to Grenada, more support is required to offset the entire trip.

In that vein, Hermonstine made an appeal to corporate Guyana to pitch in, as the athletes’ Carifta journey is a bid to fly the Golden Arrowhead high in Grenada and to bring back medals to Guyana, adding to national pride. To put things into context, athletics under the AAG had an international medal haul of 76, a feat unparalleled by any other sport association thus far.

At the ‘Carifta Team vs. The Rest’ meets, Hermonstine noted that persons attending to show their support will be asked to make a contribution of GYD $500 at the gate, which will go towards the Carifta Games team.

The full contingent is listed below: U-20 Females

Tianna Springer: 400m, 200m, 4x400m, 4x400m Mix

Charissa December: 400m Hurdles, 4x400m

Attoya Harvey: 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 4x400m, 4x400m Mix

Nerissa McPherson: 400m, 4x400m, 4x400m Mix

Nalicia Glen: 100m, 200m

U20 Males

Jaheel Cornette: 100m, 200m

Javon Roberts: 800m, 1500m, 4x400m, 4x400m Mix

Malachi Austin: 200m, 400m, 4x400m, 4x400m Mix

Rodell Green: Long Jump, Triple Jump Jamal Sullivan: 800m, 1500 m, 4x400 m, 4x400 m Mix

Robert Marcus: Long Jump, Triple Jump Danielson Gill: 400m, 4x400m, 4x400m mix

U17 Females

Athaleyah Hinckson: 100m, 200m Esther McKinnon: 1500m, 3000m

Akilla Blucher: 1500m

Keneta Fraser: Long Jump, 100m, 200m Marissa Thomas: 400m, 800m

U17 Males

Duel Europe: Long Jump, Triple Jump Skylar Charles: 100m, 200m

Kaidon Persaud: 400m, 800m

Ezekiel Millington: 100m, 200m

Ryan Joseph: Long Jump, Triple Jump Nathaniel Samaroo: Shot Put, Discus Throw