Youngsters to shoot for top at national cross-country champs

TOP-CLASS schools crosscountry action is back on the cards this weekend after South African Schools Athletics (Sasa) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) agreed to cut costs drastically to still host the event.

The South African Schools Cross-Country Championships will now take place at Grens High School tomorrow.

The champs had been in danger of not happening after the organisers alleged that they had not received financial backing from the Eastern Cape Department of Education, thus falling R35 000 short of budget.

However, an emergency meeting with Sasa officials and the LOC after they had arrived in the city saw them come to an agreement to continue with the event.

“Everything is going ahead,” said Andre Karelse, chairman of the LOC.

“The department has yet to come to the party, but we decided that we must continue regardless.”

The country’s best Primary and High School cross-country talent will now be out in force as they chase the various national titles on offer.

“We realised that we had to push forward with the event, especially for all the kids who are coming to represent their province at the nationals,” said Karelse.

The different courses have been prepared at Grens and the runners will tackle distances of 2km for younger age groups, up to 8km which the U19 boys division will look to tackle.

“The track is finished. Everything has been in place so all will be ready by the opening ceremony tomorrow night,” said Karelse.

Teams will arrive for the champs this morning and will be able to view the route from 9am.

A team managers meeting will take place in the afternoon with the opening ceremony, featuring a march pass with certain members of each province’s teams taking part, from 6pm to 7pm.

Tomorrow the first race of the day gets under way at 8am and the closing ceremony is scheduled for 4.30pm.

“We are going to make the best of it and expect to host a great event,” said Karelse.

“From day one Sasa has gone out of its way to help us and make sure that the event happens and we have worked better with them than the Eastern Cape structure and the department.”

(Friday)