Since its onset, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on everyone. Social and physical distancing measures, lockdowns of businesses and schools, and restrictions on overall social life, have disrupted many regular aspects of life, including sport and physical activity. As you know the world of athletics has also been greatly affected by COVID-19 this season with most State competitions cancelled or postponed.
We know that many athletes in our club have missed ‘racing’ and are feeling disheartened. In difficult times we would like to do our bit to lift the spirits of our members.
So, Nowra Athletics Club is proud to announce the inaugural “Nowra Athletics Club COVID Cross Country Championships” to be held on the 5th September at Hollyhill.
Each distance will be conducted as a championship event with podium spots & medals up for grabs.
According to the IAAF, an ideal cross country course is “laid out on an open or wooded land. It should be covered by grass, as much as possible, and include rolling hills with smooth curves and short straights” Well, Hollyhill certainly has all of that! The varied landscape and altitude around the Cambewarra track offers many challenges – you’ll find sharp turns, steep hills, long cambered sections, cowpats to jump and sometimes mud to negotiate; all under the magnificent backdrop of Cambewarra Mountain. We are certainly extremely lucky to have such a great cross country course to run on, thanks to the generosity of the Havadjia family.
So, what better place to hold our Cross Country Championships!
Each race will start from scratch just like it would at State XC.
Runners can step up a distance if they choose but not drop back the distance they were contesting during the season.
1km – Kids only – all receive a prize
2km – medals for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Male & Female – age capped to those turning 10 this year.
3km – medals for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Male & Female.
Medium Course – medals for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Male & Female.
Long Course – medals for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Male & Female
Of course, our Covid Safety Plan still applies and we ask that athletes adhere to social distancing when they are not competing and practice good hygiene.
In addition, from August 19th, “the mixing of participants and staff” between different regional areas is banned so please don’t bring anyone to cross country who is from outside our area.
Also, we need to limit spectators to one parent only, so if parents are not competing, then only one parent is permitted at the venue. Where parents are competing, of course, this is fine.
We are excited about igniting some local competition in light of all State events being postponed.
We hope this Championship event will inspire athletes to keep moving forward.
Let’s join together and promote positivity through the power of athletics.
