With last year’s cross country league having been cancelled because of the global Covid-19 pandemic, Athletics Vaal Triangle (AVT) announced last week that the annual 2021 AVT Cross Country League will kick off on 8 May at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT)!

The league will consists out of 7 local events in the Vaal Triangle, culminating in the AVT Championship Event, which takes place on 21 August at VUT.

Local athletes who qualify stand a chance to represent AVT at Athletics South Africa’s (ASA) National Championship event in Amanzimtoti 18 September.

As Covid-19 protocols set out by ASA needs to be followed events will be limited to 250 people; this includes stadium management, meeting organisers, officials and athletes, at a venue at a time.

According to Hanno du Plessis, AVT Cross Country Chairman, “There may also be no spectators at events.

“This means that on the day of the league event, as soon as the athlete has completed their event, they must leave the competition area.”

Du Plessis says, “Social distancing and masking must always be maintained.

“Sanitizer will be provided.

“Athletes must always wear masks except during the time period that they will be participating.

Athletes are not allowed to congratulate each other by physical contact.”

Athletes of all ages will have to purchase an AVT ASA License and wear it as indicated on the procedure and condition. This will ensure ASA compliance and cover athletes under the ASA insurance.

The events takes place under the rules of ASA and conditions for participating includes:

*The submission of a copy of the athlete’s ID/Birth Certificate to the AVT Cross Country Commission on or before 22 May 2021.

*Each athlete will have to purchase a sticker that will serve as entry to the race, it must be clearly and correctly completed (R20.00 per sticker).

*Athletes will sign on their race entry sticker that they have read, understood and comply with the AVT procedures and conditions for 2021.

*Age group stickers must be worn at all events, centre and above the valid license numbers worn on the front and back of his/her running vest.

*To qualify for the ASA Cross Country Championship AVT provincial team selection an athlete must:

-Compete in and complete 3 of the 8 league events, as well as the AVT Championship.

-Compete in and complete at the inter-provincial if he/she was selected for the interprovincial team.

-Compete in and complete the AVT Cross Country Championships, which results will be used compared with the criteria on qualifying times for team selection.

The dates are as follows:

*League Event 1 – 8 May – VUT

*League Event 2 – 15 May – Hoërskool Transvalia

*League Event 3 – 22 May – Phoenix High School

*League Event 4 – 12 June – VUT

*League Event 5 – 26 Junie – Hoërskool Transvalia

*League Event 6 – 3 July – Suncrest High School

*AVT Championship – 21 August – VUT

*ASA Championship – 18 September

For more information about the upcoming 2021 AVT Cross Country League and the times for each racing category contact AVT at (016) – 931 0073 or by email on office@avtprov.co.za