Teams are beginning to take shape for the IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018. The two-day competition, set for 8-9 September in the eastern Czech city, now just 30 days away.
While the final entries are still to be confirmed by the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), the team for Africa will primarily be based upon the finishes at the 21st African Championships which concluded in Asaba, Nigeria, on Sunday (5). Several freshly-minted continental champions, including 100 and 200m winner Josee Marie Ta Lou of Ivory Coast, 400 and 800m winner Caster Semenya of South Africa and men’s 800m champion Nijel Amos of Botswana, are expected to compete.
For Team Europe, the defending Continental Cup champions, selection will be primarily based upon the results at the European Championships that are taking place this week at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium. Women’s 100m champion Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain has already confirmed that she’ll accept the team spot, setting up an intriguing duel with Ta Lou as the pair share the 2018 world lead at 10.85.
The composition of the Asia-Pacific and Americas teams will be based upon athletes’ positions on the 2018 performance lists.
Each team will enter two athletes for each event and one team for each relay (maximum six athletes). Only one athlete from any one country may compete in each event. Each team may also enter up to a maximum of three overall reserve athletes. The deadline for final entries is 29 August.
Additional information about scoring, lane draws and competing for order can be downloaded here.
This year marks the fourth edition of the IAAF Continental Cup, the successor to ten editions of the IAAF World Cup in Athletics whose inaugural edition took place in Dusseldorf from 2-4 September 1977.
The IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018 will be the most significant sporting event hosted by the Czech Republic this year.
