By Anthony Foster in Georgetown, Guyana
Aliann Pompey’s main aim was for an Olympic medal, but while that didn’t materialize, the retired track star has turned her attention towards helping to develop talents.
Pompey is a coach at St. Johns University in New York, but to be able to return to Guyana to host an international meet (Aliann Pompey Invitational), according to her, is very special.
The 2002 Commonwealth Games 400m champion sees talents in Guyana and the meet's main aim is to develop and expose them.
“Jamaica has a head start upon us, and a lot of people catching up and have passed us, so for me, this was my way to say we have to get going, we have to start something before we can even get to that point,” said the 2003 Pan American Games 400m bronze medallist.
“There are a lot of Aliann Pompeys in Guyana, but they just don’t have the opportunity, they just don’t make it past a certain level,” added Pompey while pointing out the meet's main aim.
“I am very excited for tomorrow’s first AP Invitational,” she added while thanking her sponsors, Digicel, Guyana’s biggest 4G network, Ramada Princess Hotel, GuySuCo, Banks DIH, Quality Plus Fast Food, Fly Jamaica and Guyana Olympic Association, along with the Government of Guyana.
Meanwhile, Sponsorship Executive, Louanna Abrams of Digicel said “Digicel is very pleased to be associated with the AP Invitational.”
She continued: “We wish to welcome all the athletes to Guyana. We hope you have a wonderful stay. We looking forward to great competition Saturday, particularly the Digicel 4G men’s 100m trials and finals and the Digicel 4G 200m for women finals, so we will be there, we are very excited and we hope to have a good time."
