A dark blue and orange kitted lightning bolt is a good way to describe the speedy 100 and 200m athlete from Potchefstroom Boys High, Jimmy Sizani.

Sizani made his mark at the Inter High with two silver medals (100 and 200m) as well as putting in brilliant performances in the district and provincial meetings to qualify for the SA Schools Championships later this year. The championships would have taken place this month but was postponed due to the ongoing Corona Virus-pandemic.

“At the group 5 and 6 super inter high I got a gold medal in the 100m and silver in the 200m, which I was quite proud of. I achieved my personal best of 10.81 seconds at the district meeting this year,” says Sizani, who had a previous best of 10.84 seconds he ran in 2019.

“I started doing athletics seriously in grade 9 and went to the SA Championships. From there on I knew it was my sport. I feel excited when I run and it makes me feel alive. Seeing other athletes perform, motivates me to do the same.”

The well-known former SA athlete and Potchefstroomer, Shaun Bownes, has had a great impact in developing the Boys High speedster.

“I am grateful that he is my coach, as he takes care of me as an athlete and always advises me in order to reach my potential,” added Sizani who has dreams of reaching the finals at SA Schools Championships later this year.

“To prepare for a race I would try to relax and watch some cartoons or videos of others athletes as motivation. The most important thing is to stay focused,” he added.

“My dad is my biggest supporter. He is always interested in how I perform. When the season started he surprised me with a new pair of running spikes. It really motivated me,” added Sizani, who is originally from Johannesburg.

Apart from tearing it up on the track, Sizani also has quite a busy schedule as the vice-president of the RCL at Boys High.

“I try to do one thing at a time. Being a leader is a lot of responsibility, but it is something I like. Balance is the most important aspect to keep everything on track.”