The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has announced its squad for the World Relays in the Bahamas from May 4-5.
This is the crucial Olympic qualifying event for the world’s top-performing athletes from more than 40 countries.
Guyana will make its first appearance since the competition commenced in 2014.
Team Guyana comprises Kenisha Phillips, Tianna Springer, Aliyah Abrams, Daniel Williams, Malachi Austin and Arinze Chance.
Abrams, an Olympian, is also the national 400m record holder, while Chance is the national indoor record holder.
Springer and Austin would have recently won gold in the U-20 400m at the CARIFTA Games in Grenada.
In an invited comment, Chance told News Room Sport, “I am thankful to God for another opportunity to represent Guyana. It is wonderful that the AAG is facilitating our first participation at the World Relay Championships, and it shows that the sport is continuously growing in Guyana. Being a part of this Mixed 4x400m relay team is a blessing I will forever cherish, and I’m happy to share the experience with some of Guyana’s best 400m runners.”
Last August, the quartet of Austin, Narissa McPherson, Javon Roberts, and Springer shattered the Commonwealth Youth Games record in the 4×400m Mixed Relay, which earned Guyana its spot at World Relays.
The previous record (3:25.08s), set in The Bahamas in 2017, was replaced with a time of 3:22.07s.
At the CARIFTA Games in March, Guyana set a new record as the baton moved from Austin to McPherson, Dh Neilson Gill and Springer at anchor, resulting in a blistering time of 3:23.51 seconds.
That time is currently the 18th fastest in the world for 2024. Nigeria’s 3:13.26 seconds is the fastest.
