By Treiston Joseph
Aliyah Abrams is the proverbial ‘new kid on the block’ when talking Guyana’s athletics, since she is the latest athlete to qualify for the Rio Olympics slated for August, 2016.
Abrams born in the United States of America (USA) to Guyanese parents, qualified for the 400M event by clocking 52.04s at the SEC Championships earlier this month.
The University of South Carolina athlete indicated to News Room sport in an exclusive interview that running for Guyana was a dream come true.
“I’ve always dreamt of running at the Olympics, I always wanted to run for Guyana because I wanted to represent the country…I’m just thankful that this opportunity has presented itself,” the quarter-miler stated.
However, the 5’3” dynamo is still shocked by the fact that the opportunity to represent the country of her parents albeit at the Olympic has come this soon in her budding career.
“I love the fact that I get to represent Guyana in Rio considering the fact that I didn’t know I would make it here this early, but now that I am here I will work hard to make my parents and the people of Guyana proud,” the 19-year old Abrams noted.
Further, Abrams noted that she will continue to put in the work to be successful, “preparation has been good, I’m training every day, listening to my coach and to improve my time I have to make sure I stay training hard, lifting hard and getting the recovery that I need”.
Abrams who has the number nine ranked 400 metres performance in the history of the University of South Carolina is optimistic of visiting Guyana for the first time, while adding “my parents are interesting and I am sure that the people are too. I am going to be like a sponge and soak up all that history that I hear about”.
Abrams will be in Guyana for the Aliann Pompey Invitational on June 18 at the National Track and Field Centre.
