Optimistic jnr. CARIFTA team wing out for T/dad
- coach Wilson expresses confidence in Forde
By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
April 18, 2003
Athletic coach Lyndon Wilson and team manager Pamela Phillips are optimistic of Guyana’s chances of medaling at this year’s Carifta Games scheduled to commence in Trinidad on Saturday.
Guyana’s contingent for the Games winged out for the Twin Island Republic yesterday, minus Carifta defending 5000-metre champion Cleveland Forde who left for Trinidad earlier in the week.
Speaking with Stabroek Sport yesterday at the Bank of Guyana building shortly before the team departed for the airport, Wilson said he is confident Forde will win the 3000-metre boys under-20 race as well as the 1500-metre for the same age group.
“(Serma) Mentore and (Jennifer) Chichester are also capable of winning their events as is Kendingo Thomas,” Wilson stated.
Mentore will contest the under-17 girls 400-metre event while Chichester is down to run the under-17 girls 1500 and 3000-metre events. Thomas will contest the under-17 boys long jump.
Wilson said a medal is also expected from Ashanti Scott who will contest the under-20 girls 1500 and 3000-metre races.
Phillips, a former sprint athlete herself said “we can win about four to five medals. I’m expecting a gold from Cleveland (Forde) and medals from Jennifer (Chichester), (Dianne) Munroe, (Royston) Ross and (Cleon) Washington also. Jennifer will at least get a silver in the 1500m as well as the 3000m.”
Asked why she is so confident about Chichester, Phillips said “because of the times she returned at the Mani Ramjohn Games in Trinidad in March this year.”
Chichester, who said she started training for the Carifta Games in February this year, returned four minutes 41.08 seconds for the 1500m and ten minutes 27.38 seconds for the 3000m at the Mani Ramjohn Meet.
The 14-year-old Chichester told Stabroek Sport “I’m confident of winning a gold in the 3000m and I think I can at least get a silver in the 1500m, but the 3000m is my pet event.”
Chichester who said she was training very hard for the Games explained that when she went to Trinidad last month for the Mani Ramjohn Meet, she gained valuable experience. She, however, admitted that when she started her first event (1500m) she was a bit nervous “but as the event progressed I gained my composure and became very confident. I was not even tired after the race or nothing, but my belly burn” the petite athlete said with a smile.
Mentore who is sponsored by Mohni Lopes of `Jus Cakes’, said she started training for Carifta four months ago and was very confident of winning the under-17 girls 400-mere race.
“I got the mind and I feel excited about representing Guyana, but I’m not nervous”. Mentore fearlessly stated.
Mentore would like to thank Lopes for coming to her aid at such late notice (two days).
