Megan Wilke from Dr Johan Jurgens High School kept Springs and South Africa’s names high at the 11th Africa Athletics Championships in Mauritius recently.
This Grade 12 learner won a silver medal in the high jump with a height of 1.60m and a gold medal in the javelin event with a distance of 47.42m.
“I entered the championships to compete and my goal was to get gold, but instead I came back with gold and silver,” says Megan.
She adds she always performs well under pressure and she motivates herself by saying ‘I want to, I can and I will’.
Throughout the year Megan achieved quite a few goals in javelin and came first at the SA School Athletics Championships and at the SA Junior Championships.
She is the current Africa Junior Champion in javelin and also the SA U/20 javelin champion.
“Megan made South Africa proud as she was one of only six SA athletes to receive gold medals at the Africa Championships,” says Brenda, Megan’s mother.
James, Megan’s father and coach, will hand over the reins to her new coach Tertius Liebenberg, at Potchefstroom University, as Megan will start her studies there next year.
Her plans are to continue her sport while reading a degree in education.
“Her new coach is not a stranger to Megan as she visits him often for help with her technique,” says James.
Tertius currently coaches Sonette Viljoen, the current SA javelin champion, as well.
Although Megan is the president of the school, she regards sport and academics of equal importance and her achievements show just that.
“My goal is to participate in the world championships in America next year and I am also working towards the 2016 Olympic Games,” concludes Megan.
“We are very proud of her and give all the honour to God,” says James.
