Inter-Guiana Games 2023: Guyana’s athletics team cops 21 medals on day one

Guyanese athletes were a constant on the podium for the opening day of the Inter-Guiana Games in Suriname.

In Track and Field, numerous Guyanese won medals and made a positive start in Football.

Guyana participated in 13 Track and Field events and had a successful day with 11 gold, six silver, and four bronze medals.

‘Wonder Girl’ Tianna Springer added another gold to her delightful year by clocking 59.16s to easily win the 400m, while teammate Joanna Anthon (1:07.31s) got bronze.

Afri Blair made it a double 400m gold for Guyana as he clocked 52.73s, followed by teammate Enoch Munroe (53.56s).

More so, CARIFTA gold medallist Javon Roberts copped another gold when he won the Boys 13-17 1500m.

Roberts clocked 4:30.47s, followed by teammate Jamol Sullivan (4:30.65s) and Surinamese Isaiah Jacott (4:35.32s).

Roberts will also contest the 800m.

Marissa Thomas (5:30.53s) copped gold for Guyana in the Girls 13-17 1500m, and her teammate, Ester McKinnon (5:32.07s), got silver.

Athaleyha Hinckson won the Girls 13-17 100m in a time of 12.61s while Ezekiel Newton (11.23s) blazed to gold, followed by Jaheel Cornette (11.55s).

Guyana missed gold in the Girls’ Javelin but got both silver and bronze.

Joseph Lhoane (31.86m) of French Guiana got gold, while Shenque Holder (24.30m) and Tamara Mingo (23.76m) got the other two medals.

However, Kaidon Persaud’s throw of 49.13m got gold for Guyana in the Boys’ event. Yardi Sidney (39.90m) of French Guiana and Mekhi Imang (34.74m) also made it to the podium.

More so, Immanuel Adams (6.23m) leaped to gold in the Boys’ 13-18 Long Jump, but Rodel Greene’s 5.75m was only good for fourth.

Letifah James (8.89m) got second in the Girls Shot Put as Matella Janaell of French Guiana powered to 11.40m.

Jamie Fraser (12.81m) and Jaheme Henry (11.30m) won gold and bronze in the Boys 13-17 Shot Put.

Surinamese Blankendaal Shemar (11:53m) got second.

The quartet of Newton,  Cornette, Robert Marcus, and Enock Munroe won the Boys 4x100m relay.

Meanwhile, in football, Guyana defeated French Guiana 2-0 compliments of a brace from Omar Sam, who netted in the 22nd and 70th.

The Games continue on Saturday and Sunday, and Guyana will also compete in chess, futsal, tennis, swimming, basketball, and volleyball.