Government funds full cost for Guyanese trio to compete at CARICOM 10k

A team of three athletes—Jelicia Wright, Cleveland Thomas, and Timothy Smith—will carry the Golden Arrowhead at the CARICOM 10K Road Race in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on July 5.

The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has confirmed the nation’s participation, with the full cost of the team’s involvement being borne by the Government of Guyana.

The announcement came from AAG President Amanda Hermonstine, following a meeting of CARICOM Directors of Sport, which included Guyana’s Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle.

Ninvalle subsequently confirmed that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, in conjunction with the National Sports Commission (NSC), has committed to covering all expenses for the Guyanese contingent. Jonathan Fungudes will accompany the athletes as the team’s coach.

The road race is a key fringe event for the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, which the Prime Minister of Jamaica will chair, the Most Honourable Dr. Andrew Holness.

The event will feature a 10K and 5K race, as well as a 5K walk, all starting from the Montego Bay Convention Centre at 6:30 am (East Caribbean Time).

Competitors in the Open 10K will be vying for significant prize money, with the winner set to receive USD $1,000. The second and third-place finishers will earn USD $500 and USD $250, respectively.

In addition to the financial incentives, the top male and female athletes in the 10K race will be awarded the prestigious CARICOM Chairman’s Trophy and the CARICOM Secretary-General’s Trophy.

The 2024 edition of the race, planned for Grenada, was unfortunately cancelled due to the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

At the last held event in 2023, Guyanese and Trinidadian athletes were the standout performers.

Guyana’s Attoya Harvey clinched the Overall Female title, securing the CARICOM Secretary-General’s Trophy.

She was followed by Samantha Shikla of Trinidad and Tobago and Laura Lynn Limery of Saint Lucia.

The men’s division saw a clean sweep by Trinidad and Tobago, with Nicholas Romany taking the top spot and the CARICOM Chairman’s Trophy, flanked by compatriots Donnel Francis and Tafari Waldron.