Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) will introduce floating trophies for outstanding teams for senior men's and women's categories in Dairibord Ching'ombe Cross Country to be held tomorrow at Mzuzu Golf Club.

AAM vice-general secretary Mzee Makawa said the introduction of trophies would spur athletes to dig deeper into their reserves.

"We are going to present trophies to best teams in both women's and men's senior categories," Makawa said.

However, the introduction of the trophies would be overshadowed by the reduced number of athletes to represent their respective regions because of budgetary constraints.

AAM has provided money to cater for three athletes for each event instead of the four teams.

Dairibord has renewed its sponsorship to K1.5 million but the association has no money to subsidise as it has been the case.

Southern Region Athletics Committee general secretary Francis Munthali said the situation would force them to reflex the rule on scoring for team position.

Munthali said instead of having four athletes to enter, three to score they would push for three to enter two to score.

"It's not practical that we have enter three athletes and then have also three to score because sometimes not all athletes can finish the race because of other factors," Munthali said.

In another development, the reigning champion Chancy Master will not defend the title because he is in Kenya training at Eldoret High Performance Centre courtesy of Olympic Solidarity scholarship.

Master's rival Mike Tebulo also will not compete because he is also at the same centre under International Athletics Association scholarship.

This will leave the competition open to Francis Khanje and give a test for last year's outstanding overall athlete John Kayange.

In women's category, Tereza Master will have a chance for a remarkable comeback after almost two years break after giving birth.

Master will face stiff competition from Nancy Matanda and Agness Chikwakwa-Jamali.