Athletics South Africa (ASA) and well-established sports event organisers Stillwater Sports have unveiled the ASA Athletix Grand Prix Series which will be held in 2018, with a total prize incentive of R1.365-million up for grabs for the athletes who produce outstanding performances.
The three meetings of the inaugural ASA Athletix Grand Prix Series will be held in March next year, giving the country's leading athletes the ideal preparation ahead of the Commonwealth Games, set for Gold Coast in Australia from 8-15 April 2018.
Apart from South Africa's finest track and field athletes looking to hone their skills in a competitive environment, some international athletes are also being mooted to take part -- a sign of the pulling power South Africa's leading athletes now have.
Anaso Jobodwana, ostensibly the country's leading male 200m runner, is particularly looking forward to getting into rhythm early in the year rather than the usual wait for the European season.
"I've always said that when you line up against the best you give off your best performances, and if you don't you can always go back to the drawing board and see what you've been missing. For me to be able to do that, at home, so early in the season I think will help because sometimes when you wait too long to compete you lose some of your verve," Jobodwana said in an open Q&A at the launch held in Johannesburg.
The three track and field meetings will take place in Johannesburg (Ruimsig Stadium - Thursday, 1 March 2018), the LC de Villiers Stadium in Tshwane on Thursday, 8 March 2018, before concluding in Paarl on Thursday, 22 March 2018 at the Dal Josaphat Stadium.
Apart from a sprinkling of international athletes, there is an extra focus on the spectators with the programmes being slated for 90 minutes -- ideal for families, and sure to keep spectators on the edge of their seats trying to catch all the action.
"We are excited to announce the series which we believe restores our domestic track and field season right back on top where it was about a decade ago," said Aleck Skhosana, the President of ASA. "These Meetings will be explosive, entertaining and of the highest standard."
"This is the ideal opportunity for our athletes to put in those final touches before heading off to Australia and to other international destinations to represent this country in the best possible shape."
Being so close to the Commonwealth Games, the Athletix Grand Prix Series will also be used to select athletes to the national teams.
