OUT OF THE BOX out of the box by NORRIE WILLIAMSON
In with the New
It ’ s a New Year , and in the world athletics , it brings new hopes , new ambitions , new processes and even new rules .
The South African road running fixtures were ‘ quick out of the blocks ’ in 2023 , and it was particularly good to see the Dis-Chem Half Marathon in Gauteng back on the calendar and filling its entry allocation , despite this impacting negatively on the cup and water situation around the course . The Scottburgh Half marathon in KZN even increased its entries over the 2022 edition , and that despite sharing the date with the traditional and popular Ronnie Davel 16km , which also saw about 30 % increase on 2022 . Down in the Cape , the 48th running of the Hohenort 15km attracted almost 1500 runners , up by more than 60 % on 2022 numbers , hopefully signalling a country-wide trend for future participation . However , as the adverts say , “ but wait , that ’ s not all ...”
Points Incentives
These are just the first races that could potentially benefit from new 2023 World Athletics ranking and qualification regulations . In the new system , any race measured by a World Athletics A- or B-level measurer can be used to rank athletes ’ performances , and an athlete ’ s ranking not only impacts their earning power , but also their possible selection for the new-format World Championship Road Race Championships ( 21.1km , 5km and mile ), as well as the World Cross Country Championships , and even the 500m and 10,000m races at the World Athletics Championships .
Points scored in marathons will also contribute to the final selection of 80 men and women who will earn places at the Budapest World Championships in 2023 and Paris Olympics in 2024 . With 50 % of these fields being selected on ranking places , the importance of each race is obvious .
Races are also graded depending on the organisation and status level , and the more prestigious the event level , ranging from local club race , through provincial and national events , to Label , continental and world events , the greater the points earned by athletes , even when time and distance are the same . This will mean that races such as the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon , Durban International Marathon ( incorporating ASA
Championships ), Absa RUN YOUR CITY races , SPAR and Totalsports women ’ s events , together with flat coastal races , will be of particular interest . However , while Label and national races gain a higher points ranking , even local club events that are WA-measured and produce fast times will contribute to ranking the elites , which will provide incentives for progression and performance .
Speed Equals Points
Earning ranking points also means a desire for faster times , irrespective of an elite athlete ’ s position in a field . The focus will be on running the best possible time , because faster times will mean more points , and only the top three athletes from each country will make selection from ranking . For Kenyans and Ethiopians , ranking is likely to be the only means of selection , given their strength in depth amongst the world ’ s top 100 marathoners , but for many other countries , those athletes who don ’ t make selection through the ranking system can still be selected nationally , provided they achieve the qualifying standard .
Good times in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series events could earn elite athletes valuable ranking points
18 ISSUE 156 | www . modernathlete . co . za