New relay challenge gives young sprinters a chance to shine

THE Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) and KZN Athletics (KZNA) are proud to announce the launch of the Comrades KZNA relay challenge, an exciting new event that will give the brightest young athletes in the province the chance to showcase their talent.

The relay challenge was started in 2013 by KZNA and the Fast Feet Athletics Club and is now bigger, better and includes sponsorship from the CMA and sportswear brand Adidas.

The winning schools and age group teams will compete for R50,000 in cash and R70,000 in equipment from Adidas and a bronzed spike trophy for winning schools.

The relay challenge is a team-based event that encompasses a 1 x 800m, 1 x 400m, 2 x 200m and 4 x 100m with eight athletes per team in three age categories – U15, U17 and open boys and girls. Four districts have been invited from across the province with 16 teams per age group in the male and female categories, which equates to 32 teams per age group and 96 teams in total.

“We know that it is vital to continue to identify talent if we are to produce world class athletes in KZN on a consistent basis. The relay challenge was born to provide track athletes with an opportunity to showcase their skills. In addition it also aims to re-ignite interest in athletics and identify talent at a district level,” says KZNA president, Sello Mokoena. “We’re quite positive that we’ll unearth some raw talent that we can nurture to reach their true potential. We believe that in partnering the Comrades Marathon Association and Adidas, we can grow this event from strength to strength.”

The event takes place with semi-finals on 26 September and the finals on 2 October at Kings Park Athletics Stadium.

CMA chairman, Macdonald Chitja said: “The relay challenge is a real opportunity to get youngsters involved in athletics. We see it as a platform to develop athletic skill and create an enabling competitive environment where these youngsters can race against their peers. It’s an opportunity to instil a lifelong passion for the sport and who knows; we may even see some of these athletes at the Olympics Games one day.”