Bright prospects for Guyana’s World Championship athletics team

The National Senior Athletics Championships concluded on Sunday, with Guyana’s top track and field athletes putting out their best performances for a chance to compete at the World Championships.

Police Progressive Youth Club dominated the National Seniors Championship, which began on June 24 and concluded on June 26.

The Club racked up an impressive 352 points, followed by Guyana Defence Force Athletics Club with 247 and Running Brave in third with 120.

Running Brave’s Keliza Smith thrived in the Women’s 100m and 200m dash. Naris McPherson, also from Running Brave, won the women’s 400m.

Police Progressive won the women’s 800m, 1500m, and 5000m through athletes Joanna Archer, Aaliyah Moore, and Aaliyah Headley, respectively.

Emmanuel Archibald of Police Progressive won the men’s 100m and Long jump. Aubrey Hutson, President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), praised the athletes for a good showing over the past weekend.

“I think the athletes did pretty well. We’re able to see some of our athletes coming back home from the college system, particularly Aaliyah Moore and Joanna Archer. They ran the 800 and 1500 metres respectively.”

“To see Natasha Aulder, who is a former record holder and national champion at the troughs from Police Progressive Youth Club, coming back out after about five years or so was very heartening.”

Hutson added that the Senior Championships would have given many local athletes a chance to compete at the highest level locally as they prepare for the upcoming Joint Services meet.

“It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t get a better performance from Emmanuel Archibald in the long jump or the 100m to make him qualify for the World Championships in Oregon. So right now, we’re just waiting on the technical delegate from those championships to see how they play with the numbers at the International Level.”

“So far, though, we have the Abrams sisters (Aliyah and Jasmine) qualifying for the 100 and 400 metres.”

Guyana’s contingent for the World Athletics Championships is expected to be announced soon as the deadline to make qualifying times has now passed. Athletes will now be selected based on their International rankings.

The Championships are slated for July 15-24. The next upcoming event for local track and field athletes are the National Youth and Junior Championships which will be held from July 8-10.