Aliann Pompey, Guyana’s 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, said yesterday it will be unfortunate for her if she misses the opportunity to represent Guyana at next month’s Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Track and Field Meet in Grenada.
Pompey who will be graduating from a New York University with a masters degree in Business Administration next month end, told Stabroek Sports “It’s unfortunate if I miss CAC, but I’m in good shape and there’s always Pan Am and World Championships to think about.”
However, Claude Blackmoore, president of the Amateur Athletic Association of Guyana (AAA) said his association will do everything possible to have Pompey at the CAC meet.
Pompey who is currently campaigning in Europe, informed Stabroek Sports by telephone that she had to get a loan (US$4,500) to complete her Masters.
She said when she was in Guyana a few months ago, she received some financial assistance for her studies from GT&T. “I had to take out a loan. GT&T did make a donation towards my education which I greatly appreciate, but the rest was covered by a loan.” Pompey stated.
The 23-year-old who was born in Bee Hive on the East Coast Demerara and spent part of her adolescent years in Lovely Lass, Berbice, said she will be participating in a meet in Switzerland on June 25 and “If I miss CAC, I will run another race in Prague, Czech Republic and then Ireland and if I make an impression there, I can always look back and say CAC just wasn’t meant to be.”
Asked if any financial assistance has been forthcoming from the Guyana government, Pompey said Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Gail Teixeira was instrumental in her (Pompey) receiving a one year health insurance which began in January this year.
Pompey will benefit from a three-month grace period after graduating next month, before she starts repaying her US$4,500 loan.
Pompey who was a finalist in the 400 metres at the 1999 Pan American Games, won her first international meet of the season at one of the oldest athletic meet in Europe on Sunday. There she returned 51.48 seconds to finish ahead of Bulgaria’s Svetlana Usovich (51.62) and Anna Pacholak (51.88).
In her first meet of the season just over a week ago, Pompey clocked 51.99 seconds in finishing fifth to the world champion Amy MBacke Thiam of Senegal, who returned 51.15 for the distance. The meet was staged in Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
Pompey set a new national 400-metre record when she registered 51.34 seconds in the semi-final of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England. She went on to win the gold medal with a 51.96 run.