CARIFTA team returns

-Yassin disappointed with lack of Government funding for Carifta team

The 2017 CARIFTA team returned to much fanfare after their highly successful run at the CARIFTA Games held over the Easter weekend in Curacao.

After a motorcade from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to State House where the athletes were greeted by President David Granger along with members of the Government and Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, the athletes made their way to the Guyana Olympic House to meet with President of the local Olympic Association.

President of the Athletics Association of Guyana, Aubrey Hutson congratulated the athletes and the person associated with the success of the team before noting that the AAG will also “invest” in the athletes in order for them to develop into the “world beaters” of tomorrow.

President of the Olympic Association, K.A. Juman Yassin was equally congratulatory to the team and stakeholders, urging the athletes to want more success and to keep aiming higher.

In addition, Yassin shared his disappointment with the Government of the Guyana for not investing in the athletes, especially knowing that the team travels every year, but is not afraid to share in the success of the team.

Nevertheless, Yassin urged the Government to be more considerate and pledged support to the AAG on behalf of the GOA.

The team had 12 athletes and returned with eight medals; four being gold with Compton Caesar winning Guyana’s first male 100m sprint medal and Chantoba Bright winning Guyana’s first under-18 long jump gold medal.

Also getting gold was overseas based Natricia Hooper in the under-20 girls’ triple jump and Claudrice McKoy in the girls’ open 3000 metres.

Anfernee Headecker won silver in the 150m boys’ under-20 while Bright won bronze in the girls’ under-18 triple jump, Caesar bronze in the boys’ under-20 200m and McKoy bronze in the girls’ under-18 1500m.

By Treiston Joseph