Carifta hopefuls on show this week-end
By Candyss Odle
Stabroek News
March 20, 2003
Athletes hoping to make the Guyana track and field team for the April 19-21 Carifta Games scheduled for Trinidad and Tobago will be in action this week-end when the Amateur Athletic Association of Guyana (AAAG) stages the national junior athletic championships also known as the Carifta Trials at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground.
Competition commences at 10.30am on Saturday and Sunday.
The AAAG is hoping to increase the number of athletes and officials this year to the Twin-Island republic.
Last year at the champ-ionships in The Bahamas, Guyana sent three athletes and three officials.
As usual, the only obstacle in the way of sending the full contingent this year is funding.
According to the president of the AAAG Claude Blackmoore, traditionally, when the Carifta Games started in 1972, the Government used to provide 75% of the funds necessary but the present Government only provides whatever they feel necessary.
Blackmoore said last year the government contributed $150,000 towards the venture even while the cost of a ticket to the Bahamas was $1200 US.
Once again the National Sports Commission (NSC) will be approached with a view to providing funding for the athletes and officials, Black-moore said.
At present, no overseas athletes will be representing Guyana at the Games, as no junior overseas athletes are registered with the AAAG, said Blackmoore. He revealed that an athlete from Tortola had written the AAAG enquiring about the procedure to represent Guyana, but no response was given.
This year’s Games will be held at the Hasely Crawford National Stadium in Trinidad while the Games Village for the athletes will be the Crown Plaza Hotel.
Last year’s 800m silver medallist Tai Payne and long jumper Michelle Vaughn will both turn 20 sometime this year and are ineligible for selection since Carifta Games rules state that athletes must be under-20 years of age in the year of the competition.
However, rising middle-distance star Cleveland Forde, who is the defending champ-ion of the 5000m event, and Jennifer Chichester, who performed creditably at the Run Barbados Run held in Barbados last year are almost certain to make the final cut.
