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The Antigua and Barbuda Athletic Association would like to make available the recent press release they have made, and which is presented below:

Antiguan and Barbudan track and field athletes everywhere are gearing up for the 2013 National Athletics Championships scheduled to take place at YASCO on Sunday, June 2nd, 2013. The preparatory process includes training as well as participation in a number of high profile events in the region and further afield.

Over this past weekend, the Antigua and Barbuda Athletics Association (ABAA), on the invitation of its counterparts in Martinique, fielded a team of two athletes to participate in the Golden Star Invitational Meet. Top Under 17 female sprinter, Bliss Soleyn, bagged two silver medals in the Senior Women's, 100 and 200 metre races respectively. Distance runner Ezra Colbourne had a creditable showing by achieving a bronze medal in the Men's 5000 metres race.

This past weekend also saw many US based universities holding their conference track and field championships. Afia Charles, daughter of former Antiguan and Barbudan Olympian, Ruperta Charles, set a new National record when she won the Women's 400 metres in a time of 52.49 secs, a mere1/10th of a second outside the qualifying standard for the 2013 World Championships slated for Aug 10th, 2013 in Moscow. Afia accomplished this feat while representing the University of Central Florida at their conference championships, held in Houston, Texas. Afia will be hoping to improve her time during the next couple of weeks when she competes in both the US Regional and  National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Finals.

In speaking on behalf of the executive and members of the ABAA, President of the Antigua and Barbuda Athletics Association, Dr. Rodney Williams, applauded the performance of the athletes in the Martinique and US Collegiate track and field events and stated that the organization was not only proud of the athlete's achievements but is anticipating even greater results in the future.

A number of regional and internationally based Antiguan and Barbudan athletes are expected to converge in Antigua and Barbuda on June 2, 2013 for the National Track and Field Championships hosted by the ABAA.

End of statement.