All systems a go for API on Saturday @Leonora; Sponsors elated to be partner

Jul 12, 2017 Sports, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....lated-to-be-partner/

International athletes begin arriving today

By Franklin Wilson
All systems are in place for what will be biggest athletics meet yet to be held in Guyana on Saturday at the Leonora Track and Field Facility, the Aliann Pompey Invitational (API).
Headlining what is anticipated to be a sizzling afternoon and evening of quality action is World Champion, the famed Kim Collins of St. Kitts & Nevis along with T&T’s 2017 National champion, Emmanuel Callender who is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist as well as Barbados’ Levi Cadogan and Antigua and Barbuda’s Chavaughn Walsh to name a few.
Yesterday, at Olympic House, Meet Director, Guyana’s four-time Olympian Aliann Pompey, who shared the head table with sponsors representatives and other officials, informed that all is in place for this Saturday’s event, whilst noting that the international athletes begin arriving from today.
Director of Sport Christopher Jones representing the National Sports Commission/Ministry of Education, which is the biggest sponsor on board, Banks DIH’ Communications Manager Troy Peters, Errol Nelson (Powerade Brand Manager), Carl Bowen (Fly Jamaica, Wings Aviation, Air Guyana), Claude Blackmore (IAAF Technical Delegate), Clive Pellew (Rain Forest Waters Brand Manager) and GOA’s Dion Nurse, all shared the head table with Pompey.
Noticeably absent was Athletics Association of Guyana President, Aubrey Hutson. A number of Olympians, athletes who are bound for this year’s World Championships set for London as well as athletes who are chasing the World Championship Standards, including Guyanese Compton Caesar and Rupert Andel Perry, will be on show this Saturday which makes the Meet a quality event which every athletic fan and supporter wouldn’t want to miss.
Pompey expressed sincere gratitude to all the sponsors for partnering with her to make the API a huge success, noting that the prize monies have been more than doubled from last year.
She noted that last year’s men’s and women 100m and 400m which were invitational events, saw the top three athletes receiving USD$1000, $600 and $400 dollars respectively, but this year has seen more events added with the same prize structure.
”This year in addition to men and women 100m and 400m we’ve added the same prize structure the men’s triple jump and men and women 400m hurdles. In all three of those additional events we have Olympians in each event; we have a pretty substantial international field that I feel warrants the increase in prize money structure.”
There has also been an increase of more than 200% in prize monies being offered for national events from USD$200 to $500 for first place.
”So the total prize purse for the competition on Saturday is USD$18,500 dollars, up from about USD$6,000 last year. So it’s a much more expensive meet and I think the roster warrants that.”
Patrons would be asked to pay a general admission fee of G$1000 with $5000 for VIP. Sponsors were complimented for staying the course with the API and those making a return are the NSC/MoE, Fly Jamaica, Banks DIH through its Rainforest Water, Powerade and Malta Supreme brands, IAAF, ConSudAtle, Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel, Quality Plus Fast Foods and the GOA.
New sponsors on board are Douglas & Associate, P.C. (Attorneys at Law) of NYC, SDS Petroleum, Amethyst Marine Service which will be sponsoring the James Wren-Gilkes Men’s 200m race, Star Party Rentals, Hit & Jam 94.1 FM.
Pompey informed that there are a few events that are still to be sponsored and is actively seeking to have them covered before Saturday.
”A couple field events as well as the women’s 1500m, the only track events that is not sponsored.”
Jones in his remarks noted that that the NSC and by extension the Government of Guyana is very proud to once again be associated with this prestigious international event, continuing its support from last year.
”We recognise that because of the facilities that we have at the Leonora Stadium, it provides the opportunity for regional and international tournaments and of course it provides the opportunities for local athletes to compete with their peers from those respective countries that will be participating. We do hope that this meet will be as successful as the one held in 2016 and of course it is a commitment on the part of the government of Guyana that we will continue to support the development of young people and by extension the development of our athletes.”
Peters, on behalf of Banks DIH complimented Pompey for her commitment to aiding in the development of local athletes by bring quality international competitors to these shores as a means of giving back to the nation after her own successful exploits on the track.
”Not many former athletes can commit to such an undertaking so Aliann must be lauded for this bold initiative. More than 50 international athletes from 16 countries took part last year and I was told that the field is supposed to be much larger this year. Banks DIH Ltd. is honoured to be partnering with Pompey and the team for this meet by sponsoring the prestigious men’s 100m which will feature an international field of athletes.”
Peters noted that despite not having the likes of International star Usain Bolt; this race will be a scorcher.
”Our brands, Rain Forest Water, Malta Supreme and Powerade will ensure that athletes and spectators alike are hydrated. We look forward to an action packed meet on Saturday and I would like to encourage sports fans to come out in their numbers to support this event, especially those living in the West Demerara area.”
Representing Fly Jamaica Airways, whose parent body is Wings Aviation/Air Guyana representative, Carl Bowen noted their pleasure at being involved once again with the API. He posited that Aliann Pompey is a special person whose vision and dedication to the sport in Guyana is beyond compare.
”We’ve learnt that last year when dealing with her. Her dedication to the sport in and out of Guyana and where her professional career has taken her is unbelievable. It is only because of the support that Fly Jamaica gets from the travelling public that we are able to assist and give back to Guyana, se we thank all of our passengers, all of the travel agents who make this a success. We encourage them to come out and support this event.”

Saturday’s opening ceremony is set for 15:00hrs.
Programme
Track Events
3 P.M. – Opening Ceremonies
3:30 P.M. – Fly-Jamaica Women’s 400mh
3:45 P.M. – Ramada Georgetown Hotel Men’s 400mh
4:00 P.M. – GOA Women’s 100m Trials
4:15 P.M. – Banks DIH Men’s 100m Trials
4:30 P.M. – Women’s 1500m
4:40 P.M. – MOE Men’s 3,000m
4:55 P.M. – Star Party Rental Women’s 400m
5 :05 P.M. – Quality Plus Men’s 400m
5:20 P.M. – Hits and Jams 94.1 Master’s Men 100m
5:25 P.M. – GOA Women’s 100m Finals
5:35 P.M. – Banks DIH Men’s 100m Finals
5:50 P.M. – Men’s 110mh
6:05 P.M. – NSC Women’s 800m
6:15 P.M. – SDS Men’s Men’s 800m
6:30 P.M. – Douglas & Associates Women’s 200m
7:00 P.M. – Men’s 200m
Field Events
3:30 P.M. – Women’s TJ
3:30 P.M. – Men’s Javelin
4:30 P.M. – Women’s High Jump
5:00 P.M. – Men’s TJ
6:00 P.M. – Women’s Long Jump