Guyanese US-based athletes doing well
A MEN’S and women’s Guyana team last weekend represented the Golden Arrowhead at a 4x200m relay in the international section at the Armory Invitational, where the women’s team, consisting of overseas-based Guyanese Alita Moore, Kadecia Baird, Shenika King and Melissa Caddle-Hope, did well to win their event ahead of the USA and France. The Guyanese girls finished in a time of 1:37.93s for the win, second place went to the USA team who finished in 1:40.97s, and France were third.
The winning women’s 4x200m team from left, Melissa Caddle-Hope, Shenika King, Kadecia Baird, and Alita Moore
“I can safely say we are all excited about winning and we are looking forward to continue running together so we can lower the time, which lets us know where we are and where we need to get to before the Olympics,” Moore, who has been in the U.S. since she was awarded a scholarship two years ago, said about the race.
On the men’s side the Guyana team clocked 1:27.82s to finish fourth. The team was made up of Olympian Winston George, Chavez Ageday, Jeremy Bascom, and Earl Lucas.
The men’s race win went to the Jamaican team in a time of 1:25.69s, followed by teams from USA and Dominican Republic respectively. Bascom also participated in the men’s open 60m dash at the event, registering a time of 6.79 seconds in the preliminaries and finals.
Meanwhile, Mississippi State’s Stephan James managed to record a 6.78 seconds time to make it into the final of the college men’s 60m. However, he suffered a cramp and was unable to participate in the final of the event.
Last weekend’s performance marked the latest in a string of remarkable performances being produced by Guyanese stationed overseas. These performances come at a time when the clock is counting down to the 2016 Summer Olympics set for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in August.
According to reports of the North American arm of the Athletics Association of Guyana, stellar performances have also been seen from South American Youth Championships gold medallist Jason Yaw, as well Brenessa Thompson, Guyana’s lone CARIFTA Games representative last year, and Jermaine Griffith of Rutgers University.
The AAG North American arm is headed by four-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Aliann Pompey, who is also the coach for King.
Thompson last month ran 7.51 seconds for the 60m at the Texas A and M Invitational, while King did 7.88 seconds at the St. John’s season opener, Bill Ward Meet.
“Things get a bit spicy in the 200m with several athletes participating – Brenessa Thompson again leading the way with a time of 24.04 achieved at the Razorback Invitational last weekend in Arkansas. Kadecia Baird, the 400m specialist has posted a time of 24.17 at the Great Dane Invitational in Staten Island, NY on January 16, Shenika King posted a lifetime indoor-best of 24.97 and Melissa Caddle-Hope, a senior at Coppin State, has so far run 25.02,” a report by the body said.
“Leading the group of 400m is Jermaine Griffith of Rutgers University with a time of 47.99. Jason Yaw, now competing for Western Texas CC, ran his opening meet as a freshman with a time of 51.86. Kevin Blayley ran a 51.00 for his first indoor race ever. Jenna McCammon ran a 56.42 at the Armory Track Invitational and was second in the 60m with a time of 8.50.
Winston George broke the national indoor record with a time of 33.51.The highest-ranked Guyanese athlete is Troy Doris. His triple jump feat of 16.65 puts him tied for 4th in the world,” the report continued.
President of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson, said the Association has been taking note and is keeping its eyes peeled for those who qualify for the upcoming Olympics.
Thus far Winston George stands as Guyana’s only qualifier for the Games. Nonetheless, Hutson noted, there are several athletes whose marks are just off the Olympic qualifying standard and it is hopeful these athletes can improve in time to qualify.
“This is an Olympic year and we have got a lot of requests from Guyanese in the diaspora who want to represent Guyana, and that is good because ultimately we want to put as many Guyanese athletes as possible out there on the international scene,” Hutson said.
