Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 123, October 2019 | Page 25

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Money
ROAD RUNNING
I recently stumbled across an interesting exchange on Facebook, to do with the payment of prize money in road running
events. It was sparked by a comment posted by 42-time Comrades Marathon finisher Wietse van der Westhuizen, who
is well known in running circles as organiser of the weekly Wiets se Runs in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town. Some of
the respondents include former SA 1500m record holder Johan Landsman, and Western Province Cross Country Co-
ordinator Candyce Hall. Have a read and see if you agree with the opinions below. – EDITED BY SEAN FALCONER
the cross country, but my question is now that the
cross country season is over, what happens to them
now? We can only cry out for investment and funding
when we show them the potential of youth in our
areas.
Maybe as part of your training runs, let’s direct our
running community to track and field events in the
future, and then we have a leg to stand on about
funding. I know the focus is on those who love to
spend hours on the road, but it will be nice to see the
track and field calendar added to our running groups.
Landsman Johan: During my running career
in the 90s, the prize money for 10km and 15km road
races was 1st prize: R500; 2nd prize R300; 3rd prize:
R200. It’s a disgrace that after almost two decades,
prize money for those distances are often still the
same, but entry fees are more than double what they
were in my days. Also, to get to road races, via taxi or
own transport... much more than double.
Wietse van der Westhuizen: I suggest no
prize money up to 21km, but all the clubs presenting
shorter races must still give the province that amount
of prize money that was supposed to be handed out at
those races, so there can be prize money at track and
cross country races. It will get our top runners back on
the track. The province must then only give prize money
from 10 to 21km races if world or top standards are met.
Nicholas Mlotshwa: Then how about those
who want to strive to do well at 10km? There are
young ones motivated by these incentives. I have
seen that for some it’s now a source of income due to
the economic situations. Do we forget about them?
Wietse van der Westhuizen: Nicholas, just
think, if there is prize money in different distance and
age categories on the track and cross country, the
possibility to win more there is so much bigger, and
at the same time they become better runners. I don’t
think we have more than 50 men in SA that can run a
10km under 30 minutes, and not more than 20 women
that can break 35 minutes. Think of the future of these
runners and how this can help SA running.
Bennie Stander: Wietse, I agree with you. You
and I have been in the sport for many years and are
still going strong because of our passion for it. The
sport actually gave us a lot back, because we served
the sport, and every time we ran, we did so because
we loved it, and wanted to! Since I ran my first 800m
as a boy almost 52 years ago, I have had a passion
for running and coaching, and yes, I also won a fair
amount of prize money in my life. That’s great, but the
gap between prize money for shorter distance races
and marathons and up has become ridiculous. In any
case, only the elites can win those prizes. Therefore,
I feel that money should be the last motivation, and
when you’re good, you earn it, but the question is, do
our youth even want to start running, whether it’s on
the track or road or trails?
Peter Farao: Hi Wietse, the attendance at
Western Province cross country events this year was
really something to see, but funny enough, I actually
spoke to Eric Coetzee regarding prize money for
the Masters. Yes, the entry fee is small, but I think
we need to get more funding into cross country and
track. It was nice for me to see the under-11 race at
Athletes need to take a stand and just start staying
away from these events, because it doesn’t serve the
interest of the top, hard-working athletes who desire
to establish a full-time running career. Those events
only serve the interest of Micky Mouse sponsorships,
because they get huge exposure all over social media
and the print media. So with the little money they
invest, they get klomp mileage.
Peter, why the need to show them the potential of
youth in our areas? Follow the brilliant results from
Fit to Run week in and week out. Speak to Norman
Ontong to realise the great talent in our communities.
Our youth don’t need to prove anything to anyone.
Their achievements are out there for all to take note
of. Problem is, the sponsors don’t take note of it.
Peter Farao: Johan, the question remains, how
do we get race fees down, so that we can flood our
short races with juniors, or how do we get back the
excitement of track and field? Where is the focus in
athletics in our community? Maybe we need to start
with our schools, and find out how athletics is really
handled. Also, those of us who are helping athletes
with running, especially at junior level, need to get
them to the track, and let’s create an atmosphere in
which they can perform.
Wietse van der Westhuizen: Johan,
maar 15 jaar gelede het jy nie vir die verkeer,
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