Synthetic tracks to boost athletics in Regions Six and Ten 

 

• who’s the next Usain Bolt? 

DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Two synthetic tracks for athletic facilities in New Amsterdam and Wismar may soon pave the way to produce Guyana’s own Usain Bolt!

Bids have been entered for the tracks to be laid at the Bayroc Community Centre ground in Wismar, Linden at an engineer’s estimate of $205.7Million and the Burnham Park Sporting Facilities, New Amsterdam, estimated at $176.4Million.

Both facilities will be outfitted with eight-lane, 400-metre tracks. However, two of four phases for the synthetic track in Region 10 have already being completed. This was disclosed by Minister of Social Cohesion Dr. George Norton during a recent visit.

In 2017, Guyana earned a total of 35 medals in track and field which includes, eight goal medals, 12 silver medals, and 15 bronzes medal, at various regional and international events.

Among the athletes who broke records for 2017 is Daniel Williams who set a new time in the boys under-18 100m at the School Nationals running a stunning 10.65 seconds. He also clocked 21.78 seconds and 49.84 seconds in the boys under-18 200m and 400m respectively. Chantoba Bright in the Girls’ Under-18 long jump leapt to a record 5.89m; Toyan Raymond in the girls under-20 long jump also set a new record of 5.73m; and Murphy Nash brought the boys under 16 1500m record down to 4m26s.

Guyana’s first synthetic track was commissioned in April, 2015 in Region Three, Leonora.

By: Isaiah Braithwaite.