South American 10k in Suriname today

Oct 30, 2010 Sports

– Morgan’s participation in doubt

A three-man national team departed Thursday morning for the second leg of the three-stage South American (SA) 10km Road Race Classic in Suriname minus Alika Morgan, who has been ill since competing in the first stage in Guyana Sunday.
President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), Colin Boyce told this newspaper that winner of the male international race on Sunday, Cleveland Forde left with Dennis Horatio and Nathanie Giddings for the second stage of the race in Suriname.
The AAG President said that Alika Morgan was down to be part of that team as the first Guyanese woman to cross the line on Sunday, but has no recent information on her health issues after learning that she was taken to a doctor on Thursday.
“We haven’t had any concrete information from her coach on that [doctor’s] visit. We have already purchased a ticket and have every arrangement in place for her to travel,” Boyce stated, adding that this morning was the last opportunity for her to travel.
The race in Suriname will be held this afternoon, which meant that if Morgan is fit to travel, she would have had to do so this morning in time to settle in for the race.
A visibly weak Morgan had major difficulties standing on her own after the race Sunday.
Subsequently, Kaieteur Sport learnt that her participation in the first stage was also under threat after she collapsed twice earlier that Sunday. However, recovery therapy was conducted and the athlete was able to compete in Guyana.
“We recognised that she had a problem. We don’t know what the reason is for that. All the details surrounding this athlete’s health are sketchy. Her coach has not communicated that with us so we don’t know,” Boyce indicated.
Meanwhile, effort to contact Morgan’s coach, Leslie Black for an update proved futile. Boyce said that they decided to go with Giddings for the tour after the bare-foot wonder put in a stellar performance during the course of the Guyana stage.
Giddings led the IAAF-sanctioned race for more than 5km before throwing in the towel to finish seventh overall. He was the fourth Guyanese to cross the finish line behind Forde, Dennis Horatio and Wilbert Mingo.