Early-season wins boost hopes for rising CGA sprint stars
Maemu and Pila claim 200m titles as they target top-10 rankings and global competition spots.
Rising sprint star Phathusthedzo Maemu recently competed in the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) League meets, securing first position in the Boys Under-16 200m event.
With the new athletics season underway, the stakes are higher for both junior and senior athletes as they aim to achieve qualifying times for upcoming international competitions.
Having already completed two league meets, Maemu is confident about reaching his season goals.
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The Elspark High School learner, who resides in Katlehong, trains five days a week to maintain peak fitness and performance levels.
“I have been preparing ahead of the season since last December. I have been putting in the work and hope that it now pays off,” said Maemu.
He added that by the end of the season, he hopes to rank among the top 10 best-performing athletes and improve his personal best time.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Malesela Pila also delivered an impressive performance, claiming first place in the Under-18 200m event. He expressed excitement about opening the season with a victory.
“It’s open season; anyone can challenge you on the track. We all want to test ourselves and identify areas where we can improve,” said Pila.
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Looking ahead, Pila has set his sights on achieving a qualifying time of 21.4 seconds to secure a spot at the Under-20 World Championships.
“The season will test us, and we will test ourselves in return,” said Pila.
“We have demonstrated determination and discipline early in the season, positioning ourselves as promising contenders in our respective age categories. As they say, the world is ours for the taking,” said Pila.
