Siblings are double trouble for opposition

They both won victor and victrix ludorum in swimming and athletics, and they have both gone to the South African Champs for XCountry. Asher and Selanna Biggs made their mark as potential great athletes of the Lowveld community recently.

In only a few months, Asher Biggs (15) has emerged from under the radar to being selected to compete in the SA Champs after his second only triathlon with the possibility of being considered to represent South Africa at the World Schools’ Triathlon Champs in France later this year.

Asher only started competing in triathlons last year November. He got his first road bike three weeks before his first competition and since then he has flourished and recently completed his third triathlon.

“My goal and dream is to go to world champs and of course the Olympics one day. I admire my coach, Johan Pretorius, who is a great athlete.”

Asher took the trophy for the second time in February this year for the best middle-distance athlete at the interschools meeting at Hoërskool Rob Ferreira. He was appointed victor ludorum at last years Mpumalanga Biathlon Champs, the event again this year and will be going to the South African Champs in April.

The Uplands pupil’s next triathlon event will be in Bloemfontein where the top-four athletes in their specific age categories get chosen to go to France.
Already in his primary school years he was sportsman of the year in grade six as well as victor ludorum for swimming and athletics. In 2013 he was awarded the trophy for the best middle-distance athlete at Rob. That same year he won victor ludorum at his interhouse. He received half colours for swimming and attended the national level-one gala where he also received one gold, two silver and a bronze. He was team captain. A year later he broke five records and was victor ludorum at his school’s interhouse. This year he won victor ludorum for the third consecutive time at Uplands’ interhouse.

Although she’s only 13 years old, Selanna is already running an u/19 girls qualifying time for the 800 metres. This year she was victrix ludorum at Curro Junior Schools interhouse athletics, winning among others, gold medals in the 800 and 1 500 metres. She also participated in the Mpumalanga Biathlon Champs in Mbombela and came second, thus making it to SA Champs. It was already clear in the beginning of her career that she would be successful at a young age.

She was victrix ludorum in 2011 at Riverview Preparatory’s interhouse athletics and victrix again at Uplands Prep in 2012. She was the first child in the history of Uplands Prep to go to SA Champs in 2012 for 1 200 metres. Selanna won Mpumalanga Champs, 1 200 metres two years in a row, after winning all the circuit meetings leading up to the championships. She was selected for SA Champs again in 2013, for 1 200 metres finishing in sixth place.

She started 2014 in Curro College where she was the only u/12 girl to play hockey for the u/13 girls. She scored 16 goals in the season. She was also selected for the Mpumalanga C team hockey. She has had a great 2015 season, winning every race in the 800 metres and 1 500 metres that she competed in, and breaking the records in all meetings. Sadly due to unforseen circumstances, she will not be able to compete in athletics further this year, but wants to make her mark in the upcoming XCountry season. Her role models are Haile Gebrselassie and Missy Franklin.

Mpumalanga qualifying times
• 800 metres u/19 – 02:32,00
• 1 500 metres u/15 – 05:24,00

Selanna’s times
• 800 metres – 02:31,00
• 1 500 metres – 05:19,00.