Athletes advised to continue training despite season’s halt

All athletic events, including next months Two Oceans Marathon, club and school events have been postponed.

Picture: fuad esack

“We have been monitoring the status of the novel coronavirus pandemic and we’ve consulted with public health experts and authorities,” said race director Debra Barnes.

“The health and safety of the competitors, staff, sponsors and the global community are paramount and an event of this scale poses far too great a risk to continue.

“Two Oceans Marathon acknowledges that many runners will be disappointed at the cancellation of TOM 2020, and is committed to ensuring a spectacular race experience for all role-players at next year’s event.

“Further information will be made available in due course and we will be in direct communication with the runners who had entered the 2020 Two Oceans Marathon.”

In a statement released on Monday, Athletics South Africa (ASA) says it has taken a decision to postpone all athletics events in the country, at all levels, including schools’ championships, for 30 days with immediate effect.

The same applies to all club and provincial activities, including fun runs, park runs, road running, cross country, trail running and track and field.

The statement encourages school athletes to continue with their preparations for all the postponed events to ensure readiness to contest for national colours when the season resumes.

Up for grabs is a spot on the national primary invitational team set to compete against their peers from other countries at an international event, later this year.

The same is advised for high school, youth, junior and elite athletes looking to qualify for the World Athletics under-20 championships, in Kenya and the Olympics.