By Treiston Joseph
The Guyana Beverage Company, under its Oasis Water brand, has partnered with the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) to host the inaugural Oasis Water 5k run and fun walk on November 12.
The event will add some flavour to the distance landscape in Guyana as some of the best middle and long distance athletes will clash for top honours.
At a press conference held on Thursday, Commercial Manager of Guyana Beverage Company, Samuel Arjoon, shared that the development of sport is part of the focus of the organisation.
“We are happy to have the trust to help further athletics, but we believe in the development of our country through sport and young people. We know sport is a big industry that can transform our country and it’s a perfect opportunity for us to be a part of that process and it would be nice if we can have the next Usain Bolt,” Arjoon noted.
President of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson, noted that this is a great opportunity for the association.
“It has been a dream for us to have potential sponsors calling us to partner and that is what we have been working on, building our image. It’s the season for road racing and we are happy to have Oasis onboard with us and we are approaching this event with the hope that it will be an annual event,” Hutson shared.
Top Coach Julian Edmonds highlighted that while the usual suspects such as Cleveland Forde, Winston Missenger and Cleveland Thomas are expected at the event, middle distance athletes will have a shot at unseating the usual dominant runners.
“Road running is becoming very popular in Guyana, the event is short, so that makes it faster and those quarter-milers and 800 athletes will definitely have a chance against the usual suspects and we anticipate an exciting race. So we hope that person come out be a part of the event and also cheer for the athletes,” Edmonds stated.
The event will start inside the National Park at the Children’s Monument, make rounds onto Thomas Lands, then to Carifesta, down Camp Street and back onto Thomas Lands before returning to the National Park and finishing at the Children’s Monument.
The winner of the senior categories will receive $35,000, while second and third will pocket $25,000 and $20,000 respectively. The juniors and youths who participate at the event will receive training vouchers of varying amounts.
Registration, which will close on November 10, is being conducted every afternoon at the National Park or at the AAG Office at 125 Light Street, Alberttown. Race time is 15:30h.
