JOHANNESBURG – A total of 19 more athletes have been added to the Provisional National Cross Country Squad, including some of the country's top distance runners, ahead of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships to be held in Kampala, Uganda in March.
While the federation announced the national preliminary squad earlier this month, the latest names were added to the list after the conclusion of the appeals process, increasing the size of the squad to 69 athletes.
The new athletes in the squad, which was initially based on results of last year's ASA Cross Country Championships, included the likes of Stephen Mokoka, Sibusiso Nzima and Lebogang Phalula, who all successfully appealed their omissions.
"We are delighted to have strengthened the preparation squad for the World Cross Country Championships, and pleased that some of our most accomplished elite athletes will compete in Kampala," said Athletics South Africa president, Aleck Skhosana.
"Cross Country is a tough discipline which forms the foundation of distance running and we hope to send a full strength team to compete against the world's best."
The final team for the global championships in Uganda will be announced after the various trials contests. While the trials for Junior Women was held during the 5 000m event at a Central Gauteng Athletics track meeting in Germiston last week, the trials for Senior Men and Women, as well as Junior Men, will be held during the 10km event at the Johnson Crane Marathon in Benoni on Sunday.