Corné de Fouw claimed a silver in the U23 1 500m track and field nationals, slightly losing the victory to the Free State’s Molifi Mohlomi.

The championship was held in Germiston from March 26 to 28, and De Fouw clocked a new personal best in a time of 3:43:35.

Speaking to the Roodepoort Record, De Fouw said he was very happy because he ran this time at 1 600m above sea level.
“I know I can run even faster when I go to the coast.”

Also read: Roodepoort canoeist powers to victory at SA Sprints Champs

De Fouw’s path to the finals was smooth sailing, having won his semi-final heat in 3:52.

He started running at the age of seven, inspired by his brother, and has overcome adversity to reach this milestone. Last year, he sustained an injury during his scholarship to the University of New Mexico in the United States, where he was competing in cross-country and track events.

This forced him to return home, a tough pill to swallow, and this win is deeply personal to him.

“It was a difficult time, being far from home and not getting the treatment I needed.”

He is now recovered and back on track and training under his mom’s guidance.

“I’m on the right path, with a good routine in place,” he said.

Looking ahead, De Fouw is focused on improving his personal best at the Senior National Championships in Stellenbosch from April 16–19, where he’ll compete in the 1 500m.

“I’m excited to build a strong foundation for next year’s track season,” he said.