Celebrating Sport 2000 Marathon - Invited Athlete Entry
7 October 1999 and updated 17 November 1999AA and SOCOG have extended the qualifications for invited athlete entry to The Celebrating Sport 2000 Marathon. As advised last year, 150 athletes will be invited to participate in this event in 'Olympic mode'. That is, invited athletes will receive an upfront start, access to special drinks, split timing, and, for the faster qualifiers, travel and accommodation assistance.
1. All Australians who complete a marathon on an IAAF certified course under 2.33 (men) and 3.00 (women) between 1 January 1999 and 29 February 2000.
2. Up to 20 Australians who are invited by AA. AA will consider debut runners and runners who have prior to 1999 broken 2:24 (men) 2:50 (women) AND, in both cases, are currently an active member of the Australian distance running program. Athletes wishing to be considered for such an invitation MUST apply to AA by 1 December 1999.
3. Overseas athletes who have pre-entered the event. These athletes will be selected on 7 March 2000 (entries close 29 February) in the order of their 1999/2000 best marathon times on an IAAF certified course until the 150 maximum is reached. Additions will be in the following order - fastest male, fastest female, next fastest male, next fastest female, etc.
The main change is extending men to 2.33 because that's the women's Olympic qualifying time. This will ensure our leading women have some male company in their efforts to qualify. We also extended the time period to 29 February to assist some Australians who intend racing overseas (USA & Japan) in January/February. Criteria 2 is also important for those who haven't run a marathon in 1999 and seek invited runner status.
SOCOG will provide travel and accommodation assistance on a sliding scale to Australian athletes who met the original qualifications of sub-2.30/3.00 during 1999.
More info at: Celebrating Sport Marathon page.
