Van Dyk puts in winning performance

It was never going to be a contest. However, Chelsea Van Dyk’s dominance was never more apparent when she outclassed strong U13 1 500m and 800m girls’ fields during the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) age-group track and field championships at the Germiston Stadium on November 23.

She clocked 04:49.78 to win the 1 500m and secured the 800m gold in 2:19.08 to qualify for the Athletics South Africa (ASA) inter-provincial champs in Bloemfontein next month.

Given that even her rival, Boipelo Maroga of Masai AC, never posed any threat and no one stepped forward to offer any challenge, there was a tinge of disappointment from the Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) junior runner that she couldn’t post a much faster time, especially in the 1 500m.

That might seem strange, especially to those who saw her total dominance, but that’s how high the 13-year-old Rynfield Primary learner has set the standard and anything below her expectations is deemed unacceptable.

She had a slight advantage over Maroga after the first 300m in the 800m race. The gap slowly widened, and she took the bell at 01:04. With the lead just over 50m after 600m, she put foot to pedal and eventually cut the tape in 2:19.08.
“In the previous race, I ran a 02:21. My goal today was to run a 02:18. But I’m happy with my performance. The plan was a fast 65-second first lap and just maintaining on the second lap,” said Van Dyk.

Van Dyk was again in the same heat with Maroga in the 1500m, and here she outclassed her. The race began with everyone fighting for the lead, but Maroga and Van Dyk beat them to it when they sped ahead, with the latter holding a slight lead after the first lap.
That first lap was fast and seemed to take a lot out of Maroga as Van Dyk slowly widened the gap and was 80m ahead at the bell.

Van Dyk stepped on the gas with 200m to go, and such was her dominance that she finished the race with Maroga almost 100m behind.
Kgomotso Phaloanyane, who won the second heat, was second overall in 04:57.37, and Natalie Strydom of Riebies completed the top three in 04:58.93.

“I’m happy I won and with the gap I won by, but I’m not happy with my time. It wasn’t the goal. I wanted to go under 04:40. I didn’t achieve that.”
It would be hard for coach Michael van Aswegen to find fault in Van Dyk’s performances, but the runner believes she still needs to work on some areas.
“I want to improve on the track. I like competing at the nationals. I’m hoping for gold in the 1 500m under 04:40.”

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