Aliann Pompey, Guyana’s two-time Commonwealth Games 400m medallist, has announced the regrettable cancellation of her AP Invitational Track and Field Championships, a release to the media explained on Wednesday.
The event was initially scheduled for July 22 at the National Track and Field Centre.
The release states, “Due to the incomplete state of the country’s only synthetic facility that possesses the necessary certification and accommodations for international events, the decision to cancel was made.”
“After careful consideration and exploring alternative options, it has become apparent that the required renovations for the facility will likely extend beyond the rescheduled competition date,” Pompey expressed.
News Room Sport was further informed that the inclement weather is the reason for the delay in work and will recommence immediately when the weather improves.
She further explained, “Athletes need a certain certainty to plan their competitions as they prepare for the World Championships later this year. Without being able to provide the necessary guarantees, it was concluded that it is in everyone’s best interest to cancel the event.”
While acknowledging the difficulty of the decision, Pompey said efforts were made to minimize the impact and salvage some aspects of the endeavour.
As an alternative, Pompey emphasized her collaboration with the Ministry of Sport, the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), and the Athletics Association of Guyana to organize a series of clinics and training sessions. These initiatives aim to benefit coaches, administrators, and athletes involved in the sport.
This year would have marked the fifth edition of the AP Invitational and the first since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020.
“The cancellation of the event has been met with disappointment from numerous athletes, particularly those from Guyana who considered this the highlight of their season. With this in mind, we are committed to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure a stronger and better return next year,” Pompey expressed.
In February 2020, the AP Invitational was introduced as part of World Athletics’ structured World Athletics Continental Tour. The establishment of the Continental Tour was aimed at providing more opportunities for competition and earnings to athletes.
During the 2018 AP Invitational, Kirani James, the 2012 Olympic Champion and 2016 Olympic silver medallist, achieved a time of 44.99 seconds, not only winning the ‘AP’ Invitational 400m event but also setting a new Track Record.
The AP Invitational, which began in 2016, saw 11 overseas athletes qualify and compete at the Olympic Games in Rio.
