'I hope for a podium at nationals' - Mieke van der Merwe looks for a fourth national age-group title

Hurdler Mieke van der Merwe's down to earth attitude and insatiable desire for improvement are just some of the attributes that could catapult the Hoërskool Randburg learner to the summit of the sport in the country. After the 12-year old smashed the South African Schools Athletics (SASA) U12 girls' 75m hurdles record thanks to a quick-fire 11.07 at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane in March to eclipse S Mofokeng's 2003 mark of 11.22, she has lofty ambitions for the future.

Although her main ambition is to compete at the Olympic Games, her primary focus is on

defending her national age-group hurdles title at the ASA Sub youth Championships on 7 December. Mieke won the U11 70m hurdles in Secunda last December, securing victory in 11.29 and has set her sights on the U13 75mH and the 200m hurdles gold medals. "In Secunda, I was the defending champion. I've won this title three times in a row. This year, with the club champs, I’m running in the U13 category. So hopefully we get to go to the nationals and make the top three," she told #TheTopRunner.

Mieke van der Merwe going for gold. Photo Credit: Lebohang Pita.

Van der Merwe began her bid for the 2024 SA title which will be contested in Bloemfontein in December, with a 12.57 in the 75mH and 33.07 in the 200mH at the first Central Gauteng Athletics sub-youth track and field league meeting of the season on 21 September. She then posted an improved 11.90 in the 75mH for first place and 31.34 for second in the 200mH during the second league meeting on October 5.

While she's enjoying a good start to the season, her main focus is on the 2025 SASA track and field season, where she hopes to break more records. "The club season is great practise for next year's schools season. We are taking little steps. I'm focusing on my goals and improving on my personal records."

Van der Merwe is looking forward to the national sub-youth championships in December. Photo Credit: Lebohang Pita.

With multiple SA 100m hurdles champion Marionè Fourie setting the bar high this year after breaking the national record in July and making the semi finals at the Olympics in Paris, the youngster, who is coached by Johan Furstenburg, hopes, like Fourie, her star continues to blossom until she reaches senior level.

"It would be a great opportunity," she said about the Olympic Games. "If I can keep up the good work I’ve been been putting in and go through different growth spurts, I will do well in high school and hopefully go to the Olympics."