OPINION: Junior athletes are flaunting South Africa’s immense talent

In terms of both genetics and sporting experience, Rume Burger couldn’t ask for better parents.

Possessing an abundance of natural talent, Burger was perhaps the best of a long list of young athletes who showcased South Africa’s incredible track and field potential, as the next generation of rising stars delivered in style at the SA Athletics Championships in Potchefstroom last week.

Burger, who turned 17 earlier this year, was the only youth athlete to win a national title against senior opposition in Potch, earning gold in the women’s 200m final in 23.49 seconds. She also bagged bronze in the 100m final in 11.48.

And with her father Philip being a former Blitzboks rugby player and her mother Marinda having played for the Proteas netball team, both her parents will have a good understanding of what will be required to protect her from pushing too hard in the early stages of her elite career and help nurture her talent.

And hopefully the people looking after other junior athletes in SA will be equally diligent in ensuring the nation’s rising stars are able to reach their full potential.

Rising stars

Tumi Ramokgopa, 17, was also superb in Potch, with the junior speedster winning gold in the women’s 100m hurdles final in 13.55 (albeit in the absence of SA record holder Marione Fourie) and grabbing silver in the 400m hurdles final in 55.90.

In the men’s sprints, 19-year-old Bayanda Walaza (10.00) and 17-year-old Naeem Jack (20.13) both secured silver medals in the 100m and 200m events respectively.

While Walaza had already qualified for the World Championships in Tokyo later this year, after setting a national junior 100m record of 9.99 earlier this season, he achieved the feat again, while Jack also dipped under the required standard over the half-lap distance.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Ansume de Beer won gold in the women’s pole vault after clearing the bar at 4.10m, and Nicole Barnard, who turned 18 last week, triumphed in the javelin throw final with a best heave of 51.80m (in the absence of Olympic silver medallist Jo-Ane du Plessis).

Records broken

In addition, in the men’s 400m semifinals, 17-year-old Leendert Koekemoer clocked 45.03 to break the 31-year-old national junior mark of 45.15 held by Riaan Dempers.

In the women’s discus throw final, 19-year-old Alicia Khunou broke the SA U20 record, securing the silver medal with a 55.06m heave.

South Africa has a long history of producing world-class junior athletes, but the next generation look ready to break new ground. Let’s hope they continue to progress as they aim to reach their immense potential.