American Track and Field champion, Aliyah Abrams said she had qualified to represent Guyana at the upcoming Rio Olympics next month because of her Guyanese lineage. Both parents, Claudia and Denzel Abrams are Guyanese-born, and according to young Abrams, a many of her relatives are from the South American nation.
“I felt it was the right thing to do. It’s an honor to represent the county my parents are from and I feel this is a great way to show them I truly appreciate everything they’ve done for me, and for supporting me throughout this,” said the Brooklyn-born 19-year-old college student.
Abrams, a two-time All-American Outdoor 4x400m Bronze medalist is thrilled to be competing in the games. She feels it would be very important and special in a way if she brings home a medal because it would be the first time in history an athlete would have achieved this feat for Guyana in the track and field event.
Abrams is not only enthusiastic about striking gold this time around, but she said she is staying healthy and dropping her times to meet her ultimate goals in preparation to compete in the Olympics in four years time.
The athlete brought her impressive stats from Gwinnett Georgia High School, from where she graduated with honors, to South Carolina University track and field events, capturing third place in the 4×4 at the NCAAs, and placing seventh at the indoor SECs, and fourth place at the outdoor SECs.
The track star ran the preliminary time in the 400m at the Texas A&M Invite with a time of 53.21. Abrams finished her outdoor season as the country’s fastest freshman in the 400m and ran the ninth fastest 400m time in the program’s history of 52.04 to place fourth at the SEC Championship final.
The Olympic medal hopeful is preparing for the games with lots of practice, and with a memorable performance that include her 2015 Brooks PR Invitational champ in the 400, and 2011 and 2012 Jr. Olympic champ in the 400.
At such a tender age, Abrams is strong and determined on the track. She won the Georgia state title in the same category, was runner-up in the 200, and holds a Georgia 6A record in 400.
The All-Metro award winner, Gwinnett County runner of the year, and key midle relay champion, who plans to major in exercise science, no doubt has made her Guyanese parents, and older siblings, Jasmine and Christopher, proud, and will hopefully create history by bringing home the gold for Guyana.
The Guyanese community wishes Aliyah ever success in her quest for greatness.
