Midmar magic for Somerville

Hard work and dedication paid off for Dylan Somerville when he took the U13 title in this year’s Midmar mile on February 7 and 8 in 20:26 in calm conditions. This was Dylan’s third Midmar mile and he came second in 2014.

“I wanted to win so I went out fast and managed to overtake the leader towards the end,” said Somerville.

Midmar victory did not happen overnight. The committed Ashton College grade eight pupil trains twice a day for two hours from Monday to Friday and puts in another training session on a Saturday. Sundays are reserved for church and family time.

“I don’t get much time to relax but when I do I like to go to the beach and surf, skate or hang out with friends,” said Somerville.

He has been lucky enough to have trained with Olympic, World and Commonwealth champion, Chad Le Clos before and is now in the expert hands of Seals Swimming Academy’s Mark Randall.

Somerville has big dreams. He wants to be included in the next South African Commonwealth as well as the 2016 Olympic swimming team. His immediate goal is to do well at the National Championships to be held in Port Elizabeth in March next month where he will be competing in the 200 and 400 metre freestyle, 50, 100 and 200 metre back stroke, 100 metre fly and 200 and 400 metre individual medley.

The ambitious, self-disciplined young swimmer said he was motivated by competing and achieving goals and if Somerville is destined to follow in his sporting heroes, Michael Phelps and Chad Le Clos’ footsteps, he has a bright future to look forward to.