ABOUT MASTERS ATHLETICS IN SOUTH AFRICA
About Masters Athletics in South Africa
Athletics in South Africa was previously known as Veterans Athletics for men and women of 30 plus and has existed in South Africa since 1974 when the then S.A. Masters Athletic Association was founded by Danie Burger, ex-Springbok pole-vaulter, hurdler and decathlete, after a sojourn in the U.S.A. He was a physiotherapist / chiropractor who had studied and worked in the United States in the early 70's. At this time David Pain, an American Lawyer, organised a mile race for men of 40 plus, called masters.
This concept caught on and in 1975 the first championships for veterans (or masters) took place in Toronto, Canada. South Africa was represented by 14 or 15 athletes and included well-known Springboks such as Burger himself, Fanie du Plessis (discus thrower), Anne McKenzie (800m, 1500m) and Willie Olivier (800m, 1500m, steeplechase) and Monty Hacker (100 & 200), previously secretary-general, vice-president and acting President of World Masters Athletics (WMA). Since then world track and field masters championships have taken place every second year and include 8km cross country, marathon, 10k & 20k roadwalk for men and women. Since 1977 world championships took place in Sweden; 1979 Germany; 1981 New Zealand; 1983 Puerto Rico; 1985 Rome, Italy; 1987 Australia; 1989 Eugene,U.S.A; 1991 Helsinki, Finland; 1993 Miyasaki, Japan; 1995 - Buffalo, U.S.A.; 1997 - Durban, South Africa; 1999 - Gateshead, England; 2001 - Brisbane, Australia; 2003 - Puerto Rico; 2005 - San Sebastian, Spain; 2007 - Riccione Italy; 2009 - Lahti, Finland; 2011 Sacramento, USA and 2013 is scheduled for Porto Alegro, Brazil. Lyon (FRA) won the bid for the 2015 worlds and because of a switch from uneven to even years in 2016, Perth was awarded the Worlds.
The inaugural World Masters Indoors Championships were held in 2004 in Sindelfingen, Germany; 2006 – Linz, Austria; 2008 - Clermont-Ferrand, France; 2010 – Kamloops, Canada; 2012 and Budapest (HUN) has been awarded the championships for 2014. The World Road running championships (10km and 21km) and walking (20km and 30km) took place every second year in even years. These were first held as part of the non-stadia events of the World Association of Veteran Athletes (W.A.V.A.) in 1992 – Canada;1994 – England; 1996 - Brugge, Belgium; 1998 – Japan; 2000 – Spain; 2002 - Riccione, Italy, and sadly the last one was held in New Zealand in 2004. The marathon and roadwalk events have since been incorporated in the track and field championships and a half marathon and a 10km roadwalk event have been incorporated as an outdoor event at the World Indoor championships. Since the inception of the Africa Championships which was held in 1994 in Durban, the second and third took place in 1996 and 1998 in Namibia and Mauritius respectively, the 2002 championships was held in Mauritius again. 2004 was hosted by Cameroons and 2006 by Reunion. None were held in 2008. Algeria was scheduled to host the 2010 championships, but travel and visa difficulties caused the event to be cancelled. Nigeria will be hosting the 2013 Africa Championships.
South African Masters Athletics (S.A.M.A.) now consists of 12 provinces, namely Boland, Central Gauteng, Western Province, Mpumalanga, Central North West, North West North, Gauteng North, Vaal Triangle, Free State, Kwazulu Natal, Border & Eastern Province, South Western Districts who each hold their own championships, which are open to all athletes from other provinces. Track and Field events for masters consist of all the usual Olympic track and field events. Women also participate in such events as steeplechase and pole vault. To accommodate advancing age, implements of lighter weights are used from certain ages and the heights of hurdles are lowered. This is one sport where the participants look forward to advancing age !
The inaugural S.A. Masters Cross Country Championships was held in Bloemfontein in 2001 in conjunction with the S.A. Interprovincial Cross Country Championships. At this stage Masters Cross Country events are not held as stand-alone events, but under the auspices of the senior provincial and ASA bodies. Masters athletics is open to all masters athletes (35+ men and women internationally.). However, provision is made for sub-masters from age 30+ for men and women, who may compete in all provincial, national and regional championships. Masters athletics is organised and adjudicated in five-year age categories, eg. 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, right up to 90's plus !
TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE AND JOIN MASTERS ATHLETICS TODAY – STAY HEALTHY AND FIT, HAVE FUN AND SEE THE WORLD !
This concept caught on and in 1975 the first championships for veterans (or masters) took place in Toronto, Canada. South Africa was represented by 14 or 15 athletes and included well-known Springboks such as Burger himself, Fanie du Plessis (discus thrower), Anne McKenzie (800m, 1500m) and Willie Olivier (800m, 1500m, steeplechase) and Monty Hacker (100 & 200), previously secretary-general, vice-president and acting President of World Masters Athletics (WMA). Since then world track and field masters championships have taken place every second year and include 8km cross country, marathon, 10k & 20k roadwalk for men and women. Since 1977 world championships took place in Sweden; 1979 Germany; 1981 New Zealand; 1983 Puerto Rico; 1985 Rome, Italy; 1987 Australia; 1989 Eugene,U.S.A; 1991 Helsinki, Finland; 1993 Miyasaki, Japan; 1995 - Buffalo, U.S.A.; 1997 - Durban, South Africa; 1999 - Gateshead, England; 2001 - Brisbane, Australia; 2003 - Puerto Rico; 2005 - San Sebastian, Spain; 2007 - Riccione Italy; 2009 - Lahti, Finland; 2011 Sacramento, USA and 2013 is scheduled for Porto Alegro, Brazil. Lyon (FRA) won the bid for the 2015 worlds and because of a switch from uneven to even years in 2016, Perth was awarded the Worlds.
The inaugural World Masters Indoors Championships were held in 2004 in Sindelfingen, Germany; 2006 – Linz, Austria; 2008 - Clermont-Ferrand, France; 2010 – Kamloops, Canada; 2012 and Budapest (HUN) has been awarded the championships for 2014. The World Road running championships (10km and 21km) and walking (20km and 30km) took place every second year in even years. These were first held as part of the non-stadia events of the World Association of Veteran Athletes (W.A.V.A.) in 1992 – Canada;1994 – England; 1996 - Brugge, Belgium; 1998 – Japan; 2000 – Spain; 2002 - Riccione, Italy, and sadly the last one was held in New Zealand in 2004. The marathon and roadwalk events have since been incorporated in the track and field championships and a half marathon and a 10km roadwalk event have been incorporated as an outdoor event at the World Indoor championships. Since the inception of the Africa Championships which was held in 1994 in Durban, the second and third took place in 1996 and 1998 in Namibia and Mauritius respectively, the 2002 championships was held in Mauritius again. 2004 was hosted by Cameroons and 2006 by Reunion. None were held in 2008. Algeria was scheduled to host the 2010 championships, but travel and visa difficulties caused the event to be cancelled. Nigeria will be hosting the 2013 Africa Championships.
South African Masters Athletics (S.A.M.A.) now consists of 12 provinces, namely Boland, Central Gauteng, Western Province, Mpumalanga, Central North West, North West North, Gauteng North, Vaal Triangle, Free State, Kwazulu Natal, Border & Eastern Province, South Western Districts who each hold their own championships, which are open to all athletes from other provinces. Track and Field events for masters consist of all the usual Olympic track and field events. Women also participate in such events as steeplechase and pole vault. To accommodate advancing age, implements of lighter weights are used from certain ages and the heights of hurdles are lowered. This is one sport where the participants look forward to advancing age !
The inaugural S.A. Masters Cross Country Championships was held in Bloemfontein in 2001 in conjunction with the S.A. Interprovincial Cross Country Championships. At this stage Masters Cross Country events are not held as stand-alone events, but under the auspices of the senior provincial and ASA bodies. Masters athletics is open to all masters athletes (35+ men and women internationally.). However, provision is made for sub-masters from age 30+ for men and women, who may compete in all provincial, national and regional championships. Masters athletics is organised and adjudicated in five-year age categories, eg. 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, right up to 90's plus !
| ASA and SAMA JOIN FORCES TO HOST COMBINED MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS |
| Friday, January 11, 2013 |
| Supplied by Athletics SA Admin from Athletics SA |
TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE AND JOIN MASTERS ATHLETICS TODAY – STAY HEALTHY AND FIT, HAVE FUN AND SEE THE WORLD !
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