Braving a quality field of runners and frigid temperatures, the diminutive half-miler returned an impressive personal best time of 2mins 02.29secs at the prestigious Adidas Oregon Track Classic in Oregon last Saturday. Her time betters the 2:02.52 standard set by former Guyanese track phenom, Lorrie Ann Adams almost ten years ago in the USA.

Representing Guyana in an elite field comprising seven other nationalities, Burnett turned in a late burst of power to place a creditable fourth among the eleven starters. She followed Canadian record-holder and Commonwealth Games runner-up Diane Cummins, Ethiopia’s Meskerem Legesse - whom Burnett had defeated during the indoor season - and Suzy Walsham, two-time Australian 1500 champion.

The Guyanese completed the race ahead of top stars, including Jamaica’s Olympian and middle distance champion Mardrea Hyman, Slovenian champion Brigitta Langerholc who was fourth at the 2000 Olympics and America’s #2 and #3, Jen Toomey and Sasha Spencer, respectively.

Burnett, who had set a new Guyana indoor standard at the distance in early February, said she is pleased with her performance despite making a tactical error which resulted in her “getting boxed in until the final stretch.”

“This is special for everyone, especially those back in Guyana,” the Linden City-born athlete offered with a wide smile, adding that “I want to dedicate it to the young runners and tell them to aim to do and be the best they can, ‘cause anything is possible if you believe and are determined.”

“The weather was real bad for all of us, but I guess I felt it more given what I am accustomed … and then everyone was pushing and shoving.”

The new record-holder said, “I knew I had the potential, it was just to be in the elite company and do my thing … so I am here now, and I’ll continue pressing forward.”

The meet boasted the year’s most solid line-up of world champions, Olympic medallist, as well as 2003 season world leaders.

Though the inclement weather had a strong impact on the track, it turned out to live up to the promise of an exceptional lead-off to the US leg of the IAAF Grand Prix circuit.