EXCLUSIVE: Pompey optimistic ahead of AP Invitational

By Treiston Joseph

Commonwealth 400m Gold medallist now turned successful college coach, Aliann Pompey, is positive that the second edition of the Aliann Pompey Invitational will be bigger and better than the inaugural edition held last year.

Pompey, arguably Guyana’s biggest track star, shared her expectations of the meet in an exclusive with News Room Sport on Monday (June 26).

“We have a bigger field of athletes coming in from a couple more countries than last year; you know last year we had about five less events so there are a lot more event and a lot more athletes for all intents and purposes it’s going to be much bigger,” Pompey stated.

She continued, “Right now we have quite a number of athletes that have already qualified for the London World Championships in August coming in so the field is substantially better and we have a couple of returning people that have represented their countries in the Olympics in Rio that are going to come back, so it should be worth the money for the spectators and for the athletes it will be a stellar field to compete against.”

Pompey is definitely upping the ante of her meet with the Men’s 100m touted to be the first sub-10s race ever recorded in Guyana and one of the big names expected to compete is sprint legend Kim Collin, adding to a number of top flight athletes that Pompey shared with News Room Sport.

“On the Men’s side of the 100, Compton Caesar is obviously doing well over the last year plus and has come into his own as a force to be reckoned with; you have Emmanuel Callendar from Trinidad who just ran 10.10s in the 100m in Trinidad; you have Kim Collins the seasoned veteran so (you) have an interesting dynamic with Compton, Callendar and Collins,” Pompey stated.

However, while Pompey has indicated that all systems will be in place for the event set to attract a euphoric atmosphere, the top college coach indicated that the meet is for Guyana and that it is her dream for the event to turn into a Diamond League meet.

The Aliann Pompey Invitational is quickly growing into Guyana’s most prestigious international event, and with the July 15 scheduled track meet set to cause some fireworks at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, number of records just might tumble. Action time is 11:00h.