Burnett will roll into Athens with 'A' standard
-Guyanese track star does the memorable on Memorial Day
By Orin Davidson in New York
Stabroek News
June 2, 2004
The winds were heavy. The competitive atmosphere, stimulating. And, while the thousands of fans were loving every second of the competitors' fizzy performances, it was as if the Greek Gods were specially rolling out a red carpet welcome to the 2004 Athens Olympics for Guyana's national champion Marian Burnett.
Such were the conditions at the United States Open Invitational at the Cobb Track and Angell Field in Palo Alto, California on US Memorial Day, Monday, when Burnett broke the two-minute barrier for the first time.
She recorded an impressive 1 minute, 59.47 seconds time to set another national record, but more importantly, gain an all-expenses-paid passage to the 2004 Olympics.
Burnett's run has effectively rained-out the vagueness over what standard she should be allowed to compete with at the Olympics in Greece.
Among a galaxy of international stars, she was the only Guyanese representative at the prestigious meet; part of the USATF 2004 Golden Spike Tour. Running in her Nike outfit with "Guyana" emblazoned on the front, she once again brought pride to all Guyanese as she placed second in the hotly-contested Sunny D Intense Women's 800m.
The race was the first this year to have multiple `A' standard qualifiers as American champion and Indoor record holder Nicole Teter (1:58.83s) kept Burnett at bay for first place, while Canadian champion and record holder Diane Cummins was third in 1:59.87, and 2000 Olympics fourth placer Brigitta Langehold of Slovenia fourth (2:01.69s).
Burnett said she felt "good before and after the race", and was so focused and conditioned that her presence might have been intimidating.
"I remember me and Diane chatting on Saturday evening and she said I looked scary (menacing) `kinda' reminding her of (Maria) Mutola so I had something extra to use, a mental advantage," she said.
The brilliant Burnett, lowered her personal best time for the second time in as many races, this time bettering her outdoor season opener Mt SAC Relays mark of 2:01.65, by more than two seconds, done almost five weeks ago.
It was only her second race this season because of attention to classes, exams and graduation responsibilities at Louisiana State University (LSU).
The Guyanese star had to pass-up appearances twice in Brazil, and once in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Qatar.
Apart from the new national record, Burnette also becomes the third fastest South American woman ever; the sixth woman from the Caribbean, Central and South America to ever break the two-minute barrier, and the third fastest woman at 800m in the world this year behind perennial world champion Maria Mutola and Teter.
It marks the fourth time in only five events this year she has broken a national record at 800m; two times each, indoors and outdoors.
Her performance was described as "awesome" by many in her hometown in Louisiana, including her coach Mark Elliott.
"As a military person, she fought her own war on Memorial Day, miles away from home, to bring us memories we will long cherish." Elliott said.
He told Burnett he was going to be satisfied with a 2:01.00 timing given her extended competitive lay off.
The student-athlete graduated last month from LSU with a Bachelor's Degree and is also concluding studies for another degree in a few months.
Asked to state one definitive desire for her expected Olympic appearance, Burnett said she would be extremely grateful, and confident to handle her tasks if her coach is fully accredited to accompany her to Athens.
Asked about the swirling debate in Guyana over the use of standards to make the Olympics which has her at the core, Burnett said she was "initially kinda' distracted", but resolved to look beyond what she termed "unfortunate utterings."
She was, however, quick to pardon "those who seem to have particularly taken a swipe at me and other overseas-based athletes without being properly informed or experiencing what it is all about."
"Let's find more constructive things to do so that the road for the upcoming ones can be smoother," she stated. "I'm all about opening doors for younger athletes back home, and when this sort of thing hits the fan it really doesn't give these people (overseas scholarship agents and coaches) we have to talk to for help, much to work with." Burnett stated.
The former Guyana Police Force competitor said more meet organizers are already lining her up to compete at other prestigious championships. She runs next at the Adidas Oregon Classic in Gresham, then the Prefon-taine Championships in Eugene before embarking on her European sojourn which is going to take her to the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Croatia, Poland and Czech Republic among others. She is also to race in the Middle East, North Africa and the Far East before her season concludes.