Paul Gorries blasts 'absurd' World Athletics standards

The World Athletics Federation qualifying time for 100m for men is 10.00, while women have to run 11.08 seconds.

The qualifying times for the men’s in the 200m are 20.16 and 22.60 for the women’s race, with 45.00 for the men’s event in the 400m and 51.00 for the women’s event.

In the men’s 800m, the athletes have to dip under two minutes in 1:44:70, while the women are required to run at 1:59:80.

He told SABC Sport he studied the qualifying standards and is convinced it is a mountain to climb for local athletes, and only one athlete can withstand that kind of pressure. 

“If you run these times in the world championships, you make the final or secure a place on the podium. I think the qualifying times are steep. Only Akani (Simbine) can run a sub-10 in SA. Most of the sprinters in South Africa have run a sub-10 once in a while, but Akani does it consistently. 

World Athletics is denying the athletes the opportunity to qualify for the championships by setting these ridiculous times. I find it impossible for our athletes to run these times,” said Gorries.

Simbine remains the SA 100m record holder with 9.84 and 9.89 seconds.

Gorries trains twelve athletes at the University of North West in Potchefstroom and is responsible for the SA relay team in the world championships should they qualify.

And coaches the fastest girl in the world in her age group in the 100m and 200m Viwe Jingqi, but believes the teenager will not run the qualifying standards.

“South Africa does not have the resources like the USA and Jamaica to run these audacious qualifying times. These qualifying standard times will affect developing countries. 

Viwe (Jingqi) needs the exposure to run at the world championships, and she is turning 18 this year but does not have the experience to run this time. It is absurd,” explained Gorries.

South Africa, however, is not the only country that has to run the qualifying standards. The same thing applies to the rest of the world.

Athletics SA (ASA) president James Moloi told SABC Sport that rules are rules and hopes that his athletes would rise to the occasion.

“We are working with the coaches to help them qualify for the world championships by offering them more opportunities to run the qualifying times. We are releasing our calendar soon with more races than before,” said Moloi.

By Charles Baloyi