Pompey honoured in New York for athletic prowess
By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
January 4, 2005

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Guyana's Aliann Pompey was honoured recently for her athletic prowess over the past few years by the Allied Organizations of Guyana (AOG) USA.

The 2004 Olympian said her main focus this year is the Central American and Caribbean Championships, as well as the World Outdoor Championships.

According to Pompey, the AOG, which is in its 40th year, annually acknowledges outstanding Guyanese/West Indians who have made various contributions to their communities.

This year, at an awards dinner held on December 26 at Le Courdon Bleu in Queens, New York, eight persons were honoured. Pompey was the recipient in the Athletics and Sports category.

Another Guyanese, Winston Smith, a former member of the Guyana Police Force Band, received the Entertainment and Artists award.

The other six awardees are from other Caricom countries.

Pompey said the proceeds from the dinner went to benefit the Dr Peters Memorial Fund, Rev Gladwin Fraser Scholarship fund, and the Dr Thomas E. Thompson Scholarship Fund.

Pompey, who last year broke her own 200- and 400-metre records on more than two occasions each, said she thinks a lot of things worked out for her in her training last year.

And she was able to transfer most of it to her races. "My coach [Joe Ryan] and I feel that we had a fairly successful campaign last year breaking the national record four or five times, and he feels that if it weren't for the accident, we could've accomplished so much more."

Pompey was involved in a motor vehicle accident in London, England, one month before the Athens 2004 Olympics, while returning to the USA after campaigning in Europe. Though she was injured, she reached the women's 400-metre semi-finals.

"She was getting progressively faster and stronger. She was training to peak at the Olympic Games. And I have no doubt she would've made the finals," Ryan said. "The plan for this year will be similar.

"As with every year in training, there are variations to strengthen certain areas. Focusing on speed was very successful last year.

"This year, we may have her run some more 800-metre races to reinforce her strength.

"She can run a good 800. She's run 2:03 seconds without even training for it.

"We're still going to focus on the 400m, but some competitive 800-metres will help."

Ryan said Pompey's weight training is going excellently at the moment. "She's recovered well and, so far, anything that I've thrown at her she's been able to handle. I'm really excited about the prospects for this year and I think she'll shock everyone."

Pompey ended the 2004 season ranked 12th in the world for the 400-metres on the IAAF ranking system, the highest ever by a Guyanese.