Alika Morgan

When the panel of judges meets to select Guyana's Junior Sportswoman of the Year 2006 on January 26, they would have a tough decision to make since among the top performers in this category last year are two 15-year-olds - table tennis player Trenace Lowe and track athlete Alika Morgan. Both athletes did Guyana proud last year.

Lowe, a Mae's Secondary School fifth form student, full of power combined with a variety of tricky serves won six matches at the 2006 US Open to acquire US ratings.

Her victory streak continued when she took the top spot at the Under-17 Bronxville Championship in New York last year. Ending her season on a winning note, she copped the top position in October at the Guyana Table Tennis Association's (GTTA) Open Men and Women's singles event.

She won five titles including the women's singles title at the 2006 Independence championships and was adjudged the Most Out-standing Player in the NSC's annual Mashramani Table Tennis tournament by winning six titles. Over 180 players participated.

Lowe also won the girls' 18 years and under and girls' 15 years and under titles at the NSC/GTTA tournament sponsored by United States-based Guyanese Hugh Barton.

Trenace Lowe

The petite racquet wielder won the girls' under-15 gold medal at the inaugural cadet and mini-cadet tournament in Trinidad.

Lowe, along with last year's Junior Sportswoman of the Year Michelle John won five gold medals at the Cadet tournament in Trinidad.

Lowe had promised she would bring back a gold medal in the singles events and she delivered. She snatched three gold medals and John two.

John spearheaded the Guyana girls' team to gold in the U-18 team events and Lowe did likewise in the girls' U-15 team events.

Lowe was runner up to John in the girls' U-18 singles final.

Morgan, like Lowe, participated in several regional and international meets. She started the year by winning the junior category of the Clico 5K Road Race in Trinidad and Tobago and placed fourth overall among the women.

In March, Morgan, who was runner-up to John for the 2005 Junior Sportswoman award won the 800, 1,500 and 3,000-metre events at the national junior championships in Guyana. Later that month she won similar races at the Junior Carifta trials. That month also she won the 3,000-metre race at the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) President's meet.

In April, Morgan won gold medals in the 1,500 and 3,000-metre events at the Inter-Guiana Games.

When the World Athletic Day meet was staged at the Police Sports Club ground in May, Morgan won the 1,500-metre event and later that month, she along with a cyclist and a swimmer, won the inaugural Independence Triathlon.

She was selected to represent Guyana at the Southern Games in Trinidad in June and did Guyana proud by winning the 1,500 and 3,000-metre races and placed second in the 800-metre event. The following month, she won the gold medal at the Caricom 10K Road Race that was staged in St. Kitts and placed third in the Tobago Half Marathon.

After winning the 800, 1,500 and 3,000-metre races at the South American Games trials, Morgan was selected to represent Guyana at the Games in Brazil and despite tough opposition from the best on the continent, she managed to place fourth in both the 1,500 and 3,000-metre races.

Morgan had to settle for second place in both the first and second legs of the South American 10K Road Race. The first leg was staged here and the second leg in Suriname.

In November, Morgan was first in the 800, 1,500 and 3,000-metre events at the Linden Track and Field Championships, which were staged at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

That month also, she won the 800 and 1,500-metre races at the Royal Youth Movement Track and Field meet and the 800, 1,500 and 3,000-metre events at the National Schools Championships.

She closed off the year victoriously by winning the University of the West Indies half marathon in Trinidad.