SOUTHERN CAPE NEWS - Bestmed medical scheme has increased their sponsorship for the Eden Street Mile series.
Also, the cycling component is extended to include a criterium at the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) event on the George campus.
This event is organised under the auspices of the Klein Karoo Athletics Fund and in partnership with Athletics SWD, Eden Cycling, NMU and the Afrikaans Language and Culture Association (ATKV).
This partnership supports the vision of a healthy lifestyle and as such is this sponsorship is of immense advantage to sport and health in the Eden district.
After small beginnings as part of the Oudtshoorn Athletic Holiday meeting, the street mile idea grew to a series that include three races in three Eden towns during the December holidays.
Including the cycling component over the past two years added more colour and prestige to the Street Mile series.
This year, special beach activities have been added to also cater for the general holiday public.
For the first time, medals will be awarded which, along with a prize purse of R80 000, will definitely attract the top 1 500m/mile athletes to the Eden district.
The series is unique in that each town will retain its unique street mile identity and still form part of the Bestmed series as the Grand Prix winner will be determined over the three races.
The first race will be hosted in Oudtshoorn as the Bestmed Klein Karoo Street Mile in Baron van Reede Street, on Saturday 16 December.
The second race moves to the NMU George Campus (Saasveld) on Monday 18 December as the Bestmed Madibaz Street Mile.
The third race is on 20 December at the ATKV terrain in Hartenbos, named the Bestmed ATKV Street Mile.
This year, the Freestate University (Kovsies) again sponsors the Grand Prix part of the series.
The male and female athlete that collect the most points over the three races will collect the handsome prize money up for grabs.
As in the past, the organisers try to attract the top 1 500m/mile athletes in South Africa to compete.
A special effort is made to attract the university clubs to also enter. In the past three years, no less than five dream miles (sub 4 minutes) were ran: Johan Cronje 3:52:60; Dumisane Hlaselo 3:55:71; Elroy Gelant 3:56:74; and Nyongo Amos 3:55:60 and 3:52:99.
Cycling is also brought to NMU as a criterium while the mile race in Oudtshoorn will attract the country's top cyclists.
The organisers are in negotiations to get the Bestmed team to enter.
The categories for the Athletics Street Miles are: sub-juniors; juniors; 40+; and elite/open.
Additional prizes are also on the cards for the first Edend (SWD) athlete over the finish line.
The categories for the Cycling Mile Race (Oudtshoorn) and Criterium (NMU) are U9; U11; U13; U15; U17; elite; U23; vet -34; vet 35-49; and vet 50+.
Of the top athletes and clubs that already indicated their presence is Anuscha Nice, Kesa Molotsane, Amos Nyonga, Simonay Wietsz, Elana Meyer's Endurocad, Kovsies, Maties, UWC and NWU (Pukke), to name but a few.
Top cyclists who indicated their presence are Protea riders Louis Visser, Evan Carstens, Nolin Hoffman, Anriette Schoeman, Philo Verlaat, Marshall Hendriks, Arnold de Leeu, Jessica Gerber, Acendis Development Team already confirmed, and the Bestmed Development Team is also on the cards.
Without sponsors of stature such a series cannot be hosted. In addition to those already mentioned, sponsors like EdenFM, Group Editors, Oudtshoorn Ford and Klein Karoo Internasionaal are also on board.
Entries/info: www.edenmiles.co.za.
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