Amanzimtoti Primary School grade 6 pupil, Alicia Potgieter has excelled in nippers and on the athletics field of late.
At the Southern KZN nippers champs at Scottburgh, she claimed first places in the long run and relay, and a second in sprints for her club, Warnadoone Lifesaving Club.
“It was a nice experience taking part in the SA champs in Port Elizabeth last year. Unfortunately we didn’t get any places,” she said.
At the national champs at the Strand in Cape Town during the Easter holidays, Alicia unfortunately sprained her toe, so did not excel as she hoped to.
Alicia has been prolific in the swimming pool recently. At an inter-house gala, she won all her U12 events for her house, Eagle.
At an inter-school gala at Amanzimtoti Primary School between all the Toti primary schools, she claimed second places for freestyle, butterfly and breaststroke.
At a relay gala in Umkomaas to conclude the swimming season, she helped her team to first place, plus two thirds. In the individual gala, she won her freestyle and a third for breaststroke.
On the sports field the Amanzimtoti Athletics Club member didn’t disappointed as well. At the Umbumbulu district meet, she finished runner-up in the long jump and repeated that feat at the Umlazi district meet a week later. Her current long record stands at 3.81 metres.
The 11-year-old also participates in netball, outdoor hockey and waterpolo at her school, although she will now concentrate on the cross-country season. “I have always finished first in cross-country since grade 1,” she said.
“I also run the 100m and 150m sprints, although I prefer long distances such as the 800m and 1,200m.
I like all my sports equally. I love being on the sports field and I take both athletics and swimming seriously.”
