'I want to win my category' - Shot Putter Liane Snooker targets glory at ASA Sub-Youth Champs in December

Young shot putter Liane Snooker spun powerfully and let out a scream as she fired

her final throw in the U13 girls’ Shot Put at the second league meeting of the Central Gauteng Athletics sub-youth track and field season at the Germiston Stadium on October 5. Before the throw, she positioned herself perfectly and then spun around the circle, combining the grace of a ballerina with the raw strength and explosive power of a hammer thrower.

She released and when the shot put came thudding to the ground, the 12-year old

smiled because knew she had done something special. After the distance was measured, she had thrown a season’s best of 10.66m, bettering her 9.76m from league one. "I'm taking it a league at a time. I want to go to the nationals in December but the plan is to keep improving," she told #TheTopRunner.

Liane Snooker is aiming to win her category at the ASA Sub-Youth Championships which take place in Bloemfontein in December. Photo Credit: Lebogang Pita.

The youngster often threw stuff around whenever she was angry. Unbeknown to her, those bursts of anger were shaping her to become one of the most promising young female shot putters in the country. "I'm the only girl in my school that's good at it. I love it because sometimes when I'm angry, I like to throw things and also because my parents did it when they were young," she said.

In a golden era of women's shot put, where Snooker's seniors like American Chase

Jackson and two-time World U20 champion Miné de Klerk of South Africa are raising the global profile of the sport, the Noordskool Krugersdorp Grade Six learner wants to establish herself as a force in the discipline.

Snooker about to despatch the shot put at the Germiston Stadium. Photo Credit: Lebogang Pita.

"I started doing it in Grade 3. I initially didn’t like it because I thought you just threw

a heavy ball. But I saw my potential and decided to do it more often. I want to be

number one in my category and eventually rank first in the world."

To achieve her lofty ambitions, Snooker, who is coached by the national women’s

hammer throw record holder Leandri Holtzhausen née Geel at Hoerskool Monument, understands that it takes a dedication, commitment and consistency. "I will keep working hard and when I fail, I will keep on trying until I succeed. I want to appear on TV and show people to train hard and never give up."