'I want to win double gold again' - U9 sprinter Mieke van Wyk gearing up to defend national Sub-Youth title
After winning the U7 60m and 80m national titles at last year’s Athletics South Africa (ASA) Sub-youth Interprovincial Championships in Secunda, I Have Talent (IHT) Academy sprint sensation Mieke van Wyk is determined to defend both titles in Bloemfontein in December. The Laerskool Roodekrans learner clocked a sensational 09.58 to land the U7 60m gold and made it a double gold when she cut the tape in 12.49 to win the 80m sprint at the Lilian Ngoyi Stadium, last December.
The youngster, who is coached by Arnold Rossi, took her first win of the year when she cruised to victory in the U9 girls’ 60m sprint in a time of 09:22 at the first Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) Sub-youth track and field league meeting which was part of her preparation to win another national title. "I’m going to give the season my absolute best and enjoy every moment on the track with my friends. I would like a repeat of last year by bringing home gold again in the 60m and 80m," she told #TheTopRunner.
Van Wyk hasn’t lost a single race in her age group since joining IHT as a six-year
old and her aim is to establish herself as a global sprinting powerhouse like her
idol, Shericka Jackson. Since her double gold in Secunda, she continues to improve under Rossi’s guidance.
"I have been training very hard in the last couple of months. Knowing that I have to compete in an age bracket a year older than I am, motivates me to work very hard and push myself to the best of my abilities," she said. She will be in action this weekend in the second CGA league meeting on at the Germiston Stadium.
At the same time Tembisa AC’s Junior Mwa is also looking to make it two out of two league meetings on Saturday. The rising middle distance star produced 1:55.70 in a race affected by cold and wet weather to win the U9 boys’ 600m at the CGA event on 21 September.
"It was the first league. It went well but we still have more time to improve. Winning didn’t really matter. I came here to fulfil my goals," he said. Mwa who is coached by Elvis Phiri, would like to elevate his silver from last year's nationals to a gold medal. He was beaten to the title by Athletics Vaal Triangle’s Nathan Calldo who clocked 1:48:67 for victory as Mwa crossed the line in 1:48:98 to take the runner-up spot.
"The goal is to try push for a gold at nationals. But I don’t want to be a runner that obsesses about winning. I want to have fun. The bigger gold is to represent my country but I’m not rushing because I know my time will come."
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