SA Team for Moscow selected

Athletics South Africa (ASA) will be sending a team of 27 athletes to compete at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow (10-18 August).

A look at the statistics shows that it is probably one of the most experienced SA teams ever. No less than eight athletes are current South African record holders.

But it could have been nine.

During the past weekend, when racing in Belgium, Olympic silver medallist, Caster Semenya, missed qualifying for the world championships by 0.36 seconds. The 800-metre runner, who collected gold and silver at the two previous World events, won her Flanders Cup race in Ninove by clocking 2:01:86. To match the A-standard time, the 22-year-old athlete needed 2:00.00 or better, and to squeeze into the team via a B-standard time she needed a time of at least 2:01.50.

Because Semenya is such a big-name drawing card in international athletics, James Evans, ASA president, contacted the IAAF to find out if there was any possibility that she might still be allowed to run in Moscow. According to Evans the IAAF was very sympathetic to his request but, unfortunately, rules are rules.

“I understand and accept the IAAF’s viewpoint. If they should make an exception for Caster where do they draw the line?”

Evans does not want to speculate about possible South African medal contenders in Moscow.

“I think it would be unfair to do so, because it would put some athletes under unnecessary pressure.

“The only expectation we have at ASA is that our athletes would perform at their best.

“Personally I expect that quite a few of our athletes will improve on their best performance for the season or on their personal best and that will be great.  But, having said this, I am confident that at least one or two of our athletes will win medals. Remember that once an athlete has qualified for a final, anything is possible.”

During the past week three athletes had to withdraw from the national team for various reasons.

Cornelia Joubert, SA women’s marathon champion, will not be able to compete at the World Championships because of an administrative blunder. She qualified this year in June by running a time of 2 hours 39 minutes at the Orange Marathon in Mauritius.

It has now come to light that the Mauritius Marathon is not recognized by the IAAF as a qualifier for the World Championships, which means in effect that Joubert has not qualified. The mistake was made by an official of ASA who did not first ascertain which of the marathons were qualifying ones before putting Joubert’s name forward for selection.

Evans is quite upset about this.

“This should never have happened. Athletics should always be about what is best for the athlete. It is totally unacceptable that an athlete should find out at such short notice that she will not be able to compete at a World Championship because somebody did not do his job properly.

“As president of ASA I can only sincerely apologize to Cornelia.

“We will try to compensate by arranging for Cornelia to compete in one of the top international marathons next year. I have spoken to her coach and we will do our best to make up for our error. It must never, ever, happen again.”

Irvette van Zyl will also not be able to compete in the women’s marathon at the World Championship. After undergoing a fitness test last week it was decided that it would be unwise for her to compete because the risk of aggravating her knee-injury would be just too big.

Lehann Fourie, SA 110 hurdles record holder and Olympic finalist, tore his ankle ligaments last week in a freak accident in Paris.  He announced on Monday that he will not be able to compete in Moscow.