Holassie back for Southern Games

Trinidad and Tobago’s marathon record holder Ronnie Holassie has declared he is ready to carry his country’s charge against the foreign athletes at the Southern Games, which opens today at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre at 2 pm.

The United States-based long distance champion arrived on Thursday and will take on all-comers in the feature 5,000 metres tomorrow. He will race against Jamaica’s champion Mario Smith, Venezuelan champion Manuel Gonzalez and British-born American David Jones who is a 5,000 metres specialist. St Vincent and the Grenadines champion Pamenos Ballantyne has advised the organisers that he would be unable to race this weekend. This development spoilt the showdown with Holassie and Jones.

Among the other foreign athletes listed to compete are Sherry Ann Brooks (100 and 200 metres); Lanceford Spence (400 metres) — Jamaica; Janil Williams (1,500 and 3000) and Marina Appleton (800 and 1500) — Antigua and Barbuda; Marlon Martin (100 and 200) —- St Vincent and the Grenadines; Jose Carabali (100 and 200), Luiz Luna (400), Yoly Mendoza (3000) — Venezuela; Marisa Marten (Shot Put and Javelin) — Cuba.