Strydom’s star on the rise

After falling a place outside the top three in the U13 girls’ 800m at the ASA Sub-Youth Track and Field Championships in Bloemfontein on December 6, Natalie Strydom finally got the medal she worked hard for all season in the 1 500m on the second day of the national event on December 7.

Although Strydom won her heat in the 800m, her 02:22.34 was not enough for a medal. She finished fourth but knew her chances of a podium were high in the three-and-a-half lap 1 500m race.

After a tough and fast race, the Hoërskool Kempton Park Grade Eight learner finished second behind winner Chelsea van Dyk in PB 04:49.48 for the silver.

“I didn’t think I would run so fast. I went out for a medal and a PB. Yesterday (in the 800m on December 6) was good. However, today, I wanted to do better. It was a good race,” she said.

At the start, she stood next to Van Dyk, and after the gun, they both shot to the front, but Van Dyk, who won the 800m, took the lead and set the pace, with Strydom and Kgomotso Pholonyane following.

After Van Dyk opened a six-and-a-half-second lead, all Strydom had to do was fight for second place. She fought gallantly to hold off a determined Pholonyane in their duel for the silver.

“I told myself to focus, stay in the race and not to lose contact. If somebody came, I pushed harder so they did not take my place.”

She pushed hard and kept Pholonyane at bay, especially on the home straight when the athlete from Vosloorus dug deep to find a way past the Kempies athlete.

“I had to accelerate and break her because I knew if I did that, she wasn’t going to come back,” Strydom said.

She eventually crossed the line in a new milestone for her first medal at this level, with Van Dyk winning in 04:40.49 and Pholonyane making it a CGA top-three after clocking 04:49.76 for the bronze.

Reflecting on her season, which included a silver in the 800m and bronze in the 1 500m at the provincials three weeks ago, Strydom said she learnt many lessons and will carry them into the school’s track and field season next year.

Her biggest lesson this year was, “Don’t think you can’t do it; you can. If you don’t do well in a race, come back harder in the next one.”

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