By WALTER ALIBEY Friday, July 24 2009

THIS YEAR’S 35th Hampton International Games is being described as the worst ever in terms of financial contributions, but organiser Rawle Raphael said he will not be surprised if there are super performances by the athletes.

The games are being held at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo this weekend (July 25 and 26) but the reluctance by corporate Trinidad and Tobago, coupled with the unwillingness of government to assist in making the games possible this year have minimised the type of high- profile athletes that organisers were hoping to attract.

Raphael revealed at a press conference at the Port-of-Spain City Hall on Wednesday that the top athletes have agreed to forego their appearance fees to compete at the games. “Most of the regional athletes are coming to make good times and therefore I expect that they will produce super times,” Raphael said.

Among the international line-up will be Rennie Quow, who is currently ranked fourth in the world in the 400 metres. Quow has agreed only to compete in the 200 metres which will be contested on Saturday.

According to the Hampton Athletic boss, Quow will be the only athlete that will receive a bye straight to the finals of the 200 metres.

That event will also feature national champion Rondel Sorrillo, Guyana champion Adam Harris, Jamaica’s Oral Thompson and Xavier Brown, Suriname’s Jurgen Themen and Stephen Playfair as well as the United States’ Kai Roper and Isaiah Phillips.

The feature 100-metre dash will also comprise some big names, such as Keston Bledman of TT among many others while Jamaica’s Aldwyn Sappleton will be making a strong bid for the 800 metres event.

In the Women’s 100 and 200 metres sprints, there is expected a keen contest among Trinidad and Tobago’s Ayanna Hutchinson, Sasha Springer, Fana Ashby and Rayare Thomas.

Also to be among the competitive field will be Suriname’s Ramona Van Der Vloot and S’Mweralda Lynch and the USA’s La Londe Gordon. It was also revealed that the TT’s 4x100 metres Men and Women’s relay teams will also compete at the games.

The event gets underway with an opening ceremony from 1 pm tomorrow. Raphael said he is awaiting a response from Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Gary Hunt for him to take the official’s salute.

The games will consist of some 300 athletes most of whom are accustomed to paying their own way to the championship.

He pointed out that they have been working with very little this year as his organising team has been passionate about making the event happen.

The games have received sanctions from the National Association of Athletic Administration (NAAA) as well as the international body (IAAF). Raphael also made it clear that although the games did not receive a permit by the international body, it will recognise records.

Heats for the Hampton Games will take place tomorrow from 1 pm.