CGA ready for first track meet of the season in Boksburg on Saturday

Excitement is bubbling over as Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) prepares to host its first track meeting of the season on Saturday at the Boksburg Stadium. This first of four track meetings, which will accommodate the under-16 and the under-20 age group and senior athletes will start at 9am. According to CGA President James Moloi, the aim of these meetings is to provide a platform for athletes to return to the track and gauge their fitness during an Olympic year.

Ryan Mphahlele in the colours of Thembisa Athletic Club leads during a CGA Track & Field Meet. He is one of the athletes in a race against time to qualify for Tokyo 2021. Photo Credit: CGA.

“We have the athletes that are still trying to qualify for the Olympics in mind. It is time to put the athletes first during an Olympic year," he said. Moloi hoped that the return to competition will come as a relief to many athletes who have had limited opportunities to qualify for Tokyo 2021 in a year that saw the athletics calendar laid to waste by Covid-19. He said by the time the SA senior track and field championships take place in Pretoria in April, athletes would be in great condition to qualify to book their flights to Japan.

Moloi also reassured all participants that the upcoming meets would be conducted safely drawing on the experience of a successful cross-country event organised by the regional athletics body at the Kagiso Sports Complex on 9 January. "We will conduct our meetings with extreme care and adhere to the Covid-19 regulations. We are excited about the first meeting and hope that the interest of the athletes would grow in the other events,” said an optimistic Moloi.

CGA President James Moloi is excited about the resumption of the athletics season after it was interrupted by Covid-19. Photo Credit: CGA.

There will be no food sold at the stadium and no taking showers. Athletes are required to sanitize their hands and maintain a social distance of two meters at all times. All athletes must have two valid 2020 ASA license numbers. No temporary license will be on sale. No spectators are not allowed inside the stadium. The Covid-19 health questionnaire must be completed by athletes, technical officials, and registered coaches before entering the stadium. Only pre-entries (at R20 per athlete), no entries on the day of competition will be allowed. Furthermore, only registered and affiliated ASA/CGA coaches will be allowed into the stadium. No coach will be allowed in the competition area.

Athletes will have to report to the registration table one hour before their event. Field athletes must make sure the implements are sanitized before each attempt, while middle distance races may only accommodate ten athletes per heat. Athletes can only remove their mask when competing and put back as soon as he/she is finished with the attempt or race.

Dates for CGA track and field meetings

Saturday 20 February – Boksburg Stadium – 9am.

Saturday 27 February – Boksburg Stadium – 9am

Saturday 13 March – Boksburg Stadium – 9am

Saturday – 20 March – Ruimsig Stadium – 9am

Thursday – 25 March – Capacity building (coaching course) all age groups. Boksburg Stadium 9am.

Saturday/Sunday 26/27 March – CGA provincial championships for under-16, 18, 19, and senior at the Boksburg Stadium starting at 9am.