Sierra Leone: SLAA to Stage Trials for Three Championships

Concord Times (Freetown)

25 June 2011

Freetown — The Sierra Leone Athletics Association (SLAA) will this weekend hold two days national trials at the National Stadium in Freetown in preparation for the upcoming international athletics championships.

The two-day event, which is expected to attract both track and field athletes from all over the country, will start-off in the morning hours of July 25th to 26th.

According to SLAA secretary general, Dauda Sundufu Sowa, the purpose of the two days trials is to select athletes for the Cadet Championship in Senegal, the Zone II Championship in Burkina Faso and the Senior Championship in Senegal.

The Cadet Championship will run from 2nd to 3rd July, the Zone II from 13th to 17th July and the Senior Championship from 29th to 31st July.

He said: “These trials are very important for the athletes because we are definitely going to make our selection from this event, that is why it is going to be a national event because we are expecting athletes from all over the country.”

“Beside these three championships, we will also use this event to assess the athletes for the All Africa Games which will be staged later this year in Mozambique.”

Sowa said they are expecting a total of 56 athletes to take part in the trials, of which 16 will be selected for the Cadet Championship, 20 for the Zone II and 20 for the Senior Championship.

However, the SLAA scribe said he is uncertain whether they will be able to take along all of the 56 athletes to the competitions due to lack of funds.

“As an association we are looking forward to the ministry of Sports to provide us with some funds because the world governing body, IAAF has said it is a must for all associations to at least participate in two championships from their region,” Sowa said.

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