Sprint master Andre Blackman and Tai Payne were selected for the Southern Games billed for the Petrotrin Sports Club, Pointe-a-Pierre in Southern Trinidad, fixed for next week Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6.

Blackman will compete in the 100 and 200 metres sprints, while Payne will enter the 400 and 800 metres events.

The Amateur Athletic Association of Guyana (AAAG) selected the athletes on Wednesday evening, based on performances registered in last weekend’s National championships.

Blackman won the 100 metres dash and placed second in the 200 metres sprint, while Payne won both events for which he was selected.

Two standbys were also identified. They are Clyde Gibson for Long Jump and Lionel D’Andrade for the 5 000 metres.

Blackman left for the Twin Island Republic yesterday morning, along with Jennifer Chichester, to participate in the Manny Ramjohn Memorial Invitational meet to be staged tonight at the recently constructed stadium of the same name in Marabella, South Trinidad. The manager is Pamela Phillips.

Chichester is among the junior athletes shortlisted for the annual Carifta Games billed for the Hasely Crawford stadium in Port of Spain, April 19-21.

The AAAG also included Cleveland Forde among the athletes who would be considered for the Carifta Games team. He did not participate in the National Championships because of injury.

However, Forde will have to undergo medical examination and compete in the 5 000 metre race at the New Amsterdam Track Club’s Open Invitational meet billed for the Rose Hall, Canje on April 13, a Sunday.

In fact the final team for the junior Caribbean meet will be based on performances at the Rose Hall meet and the size will be dependent on available funds.

The other athletes shortlisted are:

Under-17 Girls - Dianne Munroe (100m, 200m), Asanti Mickle (100m, 200m), Serma Mentore (400m), Donna April (800m) and Jennifer Chichester (1500m, 3000m);

Under-17 Boys - Quacy Trotman (100m, 200m), Delmas Reddock (100m, 200m), Rodwell Downer (800m, 1500m), Ricky Kissoon (3000m), Ronald Payne (Shot) and Fillion Thompson (Javelin);

Under-20 Girls - Ashanti Scott (1500m);

Under-20 Boys - Royston Ross (Shot, Discus), Cleon Washington (Shot, Discus).