APA..Newsletter # 3
National News.. Amerindian Athletes :Shine At GTU National Athletics Championship

<---------Benita Laurindo, Region 9

The just concluded GTU National Athletics Sports championships saw a small but determined contingent from Region 9 cart off some nineteen medals for outstanding performances. These athletes had braved a long and tiring journey that took some twenty four hours of rough travelon a truck from Lethem in the South to the city.

These athletes ran bare feet and did not have any professional training prior to the championships. They relied on pure natural talent and determination. They won the hearts of many Guyanese who were present to witness their performance. Among the nineteen medals, five were gold. Teacher Anthony James of Aishalton placed second in his race to win a silver for his district.

Four of the athletes who won gold - Christina Charlie, Benita Laurindo, Oswin Wilson and Dexter Da Silva - were invited to participate in the trials for the Junoir Carifta Games and the Inter Guiana Games to take place in Grenada and Guyana respectively during March. Christina was to represent Guyana at both Games while Bendita was to epresent Guyana at the Inter Guiana Games and Oswin at Junior Carifta Games.

Not to be outshone by their Region 9 counterparts, students from Region 1, Moruca sub-region also shone in the swimming competition a the GTU championships also carrying off some medals for their region.

The accomplishment of these athletes strongly indicate that there is great sports talent among Amerindians who are capable enough of representing Guyana at the highest levels.

Oswin Wilson, Region 9