07 October 2016 - STATEMENT ON TRAIL RUNNING
The matter of the IAU World Trail Running Championships is currently the topic of discussion and Athletics South Africa has taken note that there is some confusion about the status of Trail Running.
Trail Running cannot be seen as a stand-alone event, but must be recognised for the valuable contribution it makes in bringing variety within ultra-running.
ASA has a rich history of ultra-running. With iconic events such as the Comrades Marathon and the Two Oceans Marathon and others, ultra-running has made a huge contribution towards the culture of athletics in South Africa.
As it stands, ASA has officially entered a team at the IAU 100km World Championships in Los Alcázares, Spain on 27 November 2016, to strengthen ultra-running in South Africa.
We are currently identifying a team to the IAU World 50km Championships in Doha, Qatar on 11 November 2016 for the same reason.
Trail Running, however, recently came within the folds of the IAAF and once it is realigned as an ultra-running event, the Ultra-Running Community will give guidance to ASA as to how South Africa should be represented in ultra-running within the context of Trail Running as an ultra-running activity.
The first guidance in this respect will come from the ASA Council during the ASA Quarterly General Meeting on 22 October 2016.