Runners to be sent to Kenya for training
ASA wants local athletes to learn from domineering east Africans
The never ending supremacy of east African runners at local marathons has made Athletics SA (ASA) to implement a plan which will see their runners being sent out to Kenya to learn how it is done.
After witnessing foreign athletes tormenting South Africans at the Nelson Mandela Day Marathon in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday, ASA president Aleck Skhosana confirmed that they are planning to send their athletes to Kenya to grasp knowledge of road running.
Tekletsion Kassahum Tefera of Ethiopia, who finished second last year, went one better by securing victory in 2:28:31. Early leader Sikhumbuzo Seme was the first South African home, taking fifth position in 2:29:32.
“We are planning to send people to Kenya who will go there and learn. It might help the athletes or the provinces who are interested in road running.
“We will soon identify the team that will go there so that they will be able to learn from the top Kenyan runners,” Skhosana said without confirming the exact date of the planed trip.
“During the [IAAF] World Champs [in London], I visited some of the Kenyan camps and I could not believe what they were doing.
“After my visit I understood why in every marathon they are in position one, two, three up to 10. They win any halfmarathon in the world. If it is not them, it is Ethiopians ... it is because of the manner in which they train their athletes from no facilities compared to what we have.”
‘‘ We are planning to send people to Kenya who will go there and learn