Van Dyk wins three titles at CGA champs

Any doubts anyone may have had about Chelsea van Dyk maintaining the same form after transitioning into a different age category, were put to rest when the 13-year old won three U16 provincial titles at the UJ Athletics Stadium on March 15.

After a dominant 2024 where the Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) junior runner clinched four national titles, it remained to be seen how she would fare competing with athletes almost two years her senior, but those questions were answered during the CGA open track and field league phase at Germiston Stadium.

In her trademark style, she remained consistent throughout the leagues and finished the provincial season with golds in the U16 girls’ 1500m, 1500m steeplechase and 3000m at the CGA champs held from March 13 to 15.

What makes her victories sweeter is that she clinched the 1500m and steeplechase titles within two hours of each other, proving how strong and determined she is.

The youngster won the three-and-half lap 1500m title from the gun when she shot straight to the front. She maintained a small lead, with Megan Kleyhans slightly behind her, while a group, led by Mikayla du Toit, followed closely.

Kleyhans kept a close watch to what Van Dyk’s tactics were but the St Dunstan’s College Grade Eight learner left the Hoerskool Randburg learner hot on her heels, opening a gap too wide for Kleyhans to follow.

Van Dyk clinched the title in 04:33.63, while Kleyhans hung on for second after clocking 04:42.25. Taya Pelser, who won the second heat, was third overall in 04:43.64.

In the steeplechase, which was mixed with the boys’ race, Van Dyk again led from the gun to the finish, navigating her way around the obstacles with ease to take the tape in 05:07.36.

She won the 3000m final in 10:15.56 on March 14, seven days after breaking the 10 minutes barrier in the same distance when she won schools’ Gauteng championships at Pilditch Stadium in 09:48.26.

Other results
Van Dyk will be joined at the nationals by teammates Jade Doran, Tamica Lloyd and Jordan-Lee Longstaff, as well as, Kgalalelo Shuping, Sarah Kiet and Mheho Mhlongo.

Doran won the U18 girls’ 2000m steeplechase in 07:36.50 while she clocked 04:46.58 for a bronze in the 1500m. Lloyd finished behind Van Dyk in the 1500m steeplechase in 05:46.32 for the silver.

Longstaff was fourth in U18 girls’ 400m hurdles. She clocked 01:22.26. Shuping finished third overall in the U16 boys’ 1500m in 04:20.82 and Kiet received a bronze in the senior women’s 800m after crossing the line in 02:21.02.

Mhlongo grabbed a bronze in the U18 boys’ 2000m steeplechase and Logan Oosthuizen clocked 50.89 for second place in the U16 boys’ 400m final.

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