Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) teenager Chelsea van Dyk once again put the South African athletics community on notice after smashing the U16 girls’ national 1 500m steeplechase record with a phenomenal performance at the first CGA track and field league meeting at Germiston Stadium on January 31.

The 14-year-old, whose 04:22.39 over 1 500m was the fastest time run by any age-group athlete in SA last year, stopped the clock in an outstanding 04:50.34, shaving 11.1 seconds off Isabella van der Merwe’s 05:01.44, set at last year’s ASA junior and youth championships in Cape Town.

“I initially didn’t realise I would be attempting the record because I didn’t know what it was. But once I knew what time it was, I knew it was possible and could run it. So yeah, I wanted to go for it,” she said.

For an athlete who last contested a steeplechase when she clocked 05:07.36 to win the CGA title in March last year, Van Dyk showed no signs of rust.

She went straight to the front of the gun, hurdled the barriers with authority, splashed through the water jump with confidence and never looked back on her way to a new SA record.

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“I have not run a steeplechase race in almost a year. I didn’t know where I was at, but based on the times I ran last year, I knew that I could go much quicker in the shape I am in.”

The St Dunstan’s College Grade Nine learner began the day with a dominant victory in the 3 000m. She won the seven and a half lap race from the gun when she shot straight to the front.

She maintained a small lead after the first lap, but the gap widened with each stride and it was almost 100m with three laps left. She took the bell in 08:40 and ultimately clinched the line honours in 09:53.53, with runner-up Ofentse Mothapo of Thembisa AC 01:03.61 adrift.

“I ran a good race. I wanted to go quicker, but it gave me a bit more motivation to show my hard work in the steeplechase,” said Van Dyk.

Usually a slow starter, this near-perfect season opener has set the tone for the national and provincial U16 champion over 1 500m and 3 000m, who will go full throttle at both the CGA and ASA champs in March as she looks to defend her titles.

“I’m definitely going to be defending my titles and also working on a few more, like the steeplechase and 800m. And I’ve got a few other things in store.”

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