Van Dyk gets maiden national call-up

Chelsea van Dyk will participate in her first international competition at the Confederation of School Sports Association of Southern Africa (COSSASA) Games in Eswatini next month.

The Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) junior runner was selected among the country’s top school athletes to compete in the event, which will feature competitors from host nation Eswatini, as well as Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Zambia, Malawi, and South Africa.

They will compete in events including athletics, handball, and netball across the U15 and U18 categories.

This achievement is a reward for Van Dyk’s exceptional work over the past two years, during which she has won more than eight national medals in cross-country and track and field for both clubs and schools.

Coach Michael van Aswegen congratulated Van Dyk on her selection for the games, saying it’s the result of years of commitment and hard work.

“Chelsea’s selection to the COSSASA team just cements the fact that she is one of the best female distance athletes in the country,” he said.

After winning the U12 girls’ 3km event at the ASA cross-country championships in Gqeberha in 2023, the 14-year-old enjoyed a stellar 2024 with thrilling performances on the track and in cross-country.

She dominated the CGA cross-country season, winning her league races and concluding with the provincial title at the championships in Kagiso last August.

She went on to win the national title at the Vaal University of Technology in September before concluding her season with another gold at the South African Schools Athletics (SASA) championships in Kimberley.

The St Dunstan’s College Grade Eight learner took that form into the sub-youth track and field season, winning the CGA 800m and 1 500m titles before ending her year on a high with gold medals in the two-lap race and the metric mile at the ASA Sub-Youth Championships in Bloemfontein in December.

Van Dyk carried her dominance into the new year, winning the 1 500m steeplechase and 3 000m U16 girls’ CGA titles before completing a distance double – winning both the 1 500m and 3 000m – at the ASA U16, U18, U20 and U23 track and field championships in Cape Town in March.

“We are grateful for this opportunity for her to go and broaden her horizon as an athlete. Being selected as part of a national team is a massive honour and privilege. I know Chelsea will wear the green and gold with pride,” added Van Aswegen.

Also Read: WATCH: Van Dyk completes distance double at nationals

Also Read: Van Dyk wins three titles at CGA champs