The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) made a resounding impact at the National Sports Commission’s 2024 awards ceremony, with its young sprinters sweeping the top prizes for junior athletes following a phenomenal season on the regional and continental stage.Sprinters Malachi Austin and Athaleyha Hinckson claimed the coveted Junior Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards, respectively.Their teammates, Kaidon Persaud and Tianna Springer, were named runners-up, confirming the depth of talent emerging from the track programme.Julian Edmonds, the local coach responsible for developing both Austin and Hinckson, was also recognized as a nominee for Coach of the Year, underscoring the success of the AAG’s development structure.Athaleyha Hinckson, nicknamed the “pocket rocket,” delivered a historic season that firmly established her as a regional force.The 16-year-old phenom broke records and created milestones, starting with her performance at the CARIFTA Games in St. George’s, Grenada.There, Hinckson became the first Guyanese female ever to win a 100m gold medal at the prestigious youth championship. She narrowly missed the sprint double, securing a silver medal in the Under-17 200m event.Her dominance continued on the continental stage at the South American Under-20 Championships in Peru, where she stormed to victory in the 100m title, despite being the youngest competitor in the field.Capping her breakthrough year, Hinckson accepted a full athletic scholarship to Louisiana State University (LSU), where she now trains alongside her compatriot and fellow award-winner, Malachi Austin.Austin earned the Junior Sportsman of the Year title after a season defined by record-breaking brilliance in the 400m.The national Under-20 400m record holder stamped his name in history at the CARIFTA Games, blazing to gold in the U20 400m, a feat made all the more impressive given the dominance of regional powerhouses like Jamaica in the event.Austin then anchored a phenomenal Guyana’s 4x400m Mixed Relay team to gold and a new CARIFTA Games record, before leading the men’s 4x400m relay team to a bronze medal.He mirrored this success at the South American U20 Championships in Peru, claiming the 400m title to further cement his status as one of the region’s premier young quarter-milers.Like Hinckson, Austin now refines his craft on the NCAA Division One circuit, having accepted a scholarship to LSU.The success of both athletes signifies a crucial upward trajectory for Guyanese track and field.The post Austin and Hinckson lead athletics impressive haul at National Sports Awards appeared first on News Room Guyana.