Roodepoort Athletics Club’s Lenè Chamberlain and Ronelle Heyns made the South African national duathlon team.
The national team will participate in the ITU World Duathlon Championships in Spain on 4 June.
Athletes were chosen based on their race performances during the season.
However, the duo will have to take a pass on the opportunity to represent the country.
Their main reasons for not joining the national team are financial because Triathlon South Africa only covers the entry fee and kit while the athletes have to fund their own accommodation and transport.
Another reason they cannot participate in the championships is that the event is only four days after the Comrades Marathon.
Heyns is no stranger to the national team, having represented the country on numerous events around the world.
“It was a surprise to be chosen because it was not something I was training for. I had only planned to push for the national team next year. Previous times I would be disappointed because I would be chosen and not be able to go because of financial reason, now, however, I’m less saddened by this because my goal this year had been the Comrades Marathon and not the World Championships,” she said.
Chamberlain completed the IronMan competition in East London earlier this year and vowed to make the national team again next year.
“It is an honour because representing your country is the highest level of honour an athlete can strive for. To be chosen is great. It is sad not to be able to that we wont be able to go but we can only continue to train and hope to qualify for next year’s world championships in Canada,” she said.
Heyns was chosen in the 50-54-year-old age category while Chamberlain was in the 45-49-year-old age category.
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