THIS year’s Sunderland City Runs event has been postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak and will now take place on a new set of dates in September.

The annual Wearside running event, which encompasses a series of races from the Sunderland Half-Marathon down to the Active Sunderland BIG 3K, was initially due to be staged on the weekend of May 9-10.

Organisers announced the creation of the Saucony Spire 5K, a new elite 5km race, last week and expressed their hope that the event could remain in its planned slot at the start of May.

However, with the national coronavirus situation worsening, organisers, Events of the North, consulted with Sunderland City Council and other event partners and opted to reschedule the race weekend.

The Sunderland City Half-Marathon, Sunderland City 10K, Sunderland City 5K, Saucony Spire 5K and Active Sunderland BIG 3K will all now take place on the weekend of September 26-27.

“We realise that this is disappointing news, but ultimately the wellbeing of our participants, volunteers, event staff and members of the public are our priority,” said Sunderland City Runs founder and former middle-distance World record holder Steve Cram.

“This is the responsible decision, and we are very pleased that we have been able to work with Sunderland City Council and other partners to reschedule this year’s Sunderland City Runs.

“Making this call now takes away any uncertainty, and allows everyone to focus on the most important task of looking after themselves and their communities in these troubling times.”

Entries for the Sunderland City Runs will now remain open until midnight on Wednesday, September 23, and all entries submitted to this point will be valid for the new date. The regular ‘Start me up for Sunderland’ coaching events have also been postponed until further notice.

When this year’s event takes place in September, it will feature the inaugural running of the Saucony Spire 5K, which will offer substantial cash prizes in the hope of attracting some of the leading male and female distance runners in the country.

Over the last decade, the Sunderland City Run events have attracted some of the North-East’s best athletes, including Sunderland’s own Team GB elite runner Alyson Dixon, as well as globally-renowned stars such as Paula Radcliffe.

The addition of an elite 5K is an attempt to offer a new racing opportunity to some of the UK’s best endurance talent, and those aspiring to get quicker and develop their careers.

Like the Sunderland City 5K, the Saucony Spire 5K will start and finish on Sunderland’s Northern Spire bridge, and will follow a new flat and fast route in the city.

Invitations to enter the Saucony Spire 5K have been extended to male athletes with a verified road 5K time of 16 minutes or under, and women with a time of 18 minutes or under.

All those who enter who have personal bests of under 15 minutes and 17 minutes respectively will receive £25 towards travel expenses.

Major incentives for elite grassroots athletes are some generous cash prizes for a regional 5K - £500 for the winner of each race, £300 for second place, £200 for third, £100 for fourth and £75 for fifth.