Kaltenbrunn to run for South Africa
Robyn Kaltenbrunn, a Grade 11 pupil at Benoni High School, is a runner with huge potential, who has been running both cross-country and track since the age of 10.
The young athlete has made steady progress through the ranks over the past six years and recently became eligible to gain her national colours, to represent South Africa at the Southern African Cross-Country Championships, in Botswana, on February 15, and at the African Cross-Country Championships, that will be held in Uganda, in March.
Kaltenbrunn first ran in the South African Cross-Country Championships in 2009, while she was a pupil at Rynfield Primary School. She now runs for Benoni High School, under the guidance of her coach, Glen van der Westhuizen (deputy principal of Benoni High).
She has run at this level for the past five years and has also run at the South African Championships, on the track, competing in the 3 000m and 1 500m events.
Last year, the athlete competed in both the South African club and schools cross-country championships.
She finished in second place at the club championships, in Potchefstroom, and in fourth place at the schools championship, in Bloemfontein.
On Saturday, January 25, Kaltenbrunn ran in the u-19 age group, in the South African Cross-Country Trials, at the National Botanical Gardens, in Pretoria, and finished in a very credible second place, in the junior girls event.
This means she will now receive her national colours for cross-country.
On the following day, Sunday, January 25, the runner finished third in the open women’s 10.5km race, in the Johnson Crane Marathon.
Her confidence, focus, hard work and sacrifices have now made her dream of representing her country in the sport that she loves a reality.
She is also moving closer and closer to achieving her goal of one day participating in the Olympics.
Her coach, van der Westhuizen has coached 16 athletes who have earned their national colours for cross-country, and can now add Kaltenbrunn to that list.
She is the fourth junior runner van der Westhuizen has coached who has earned national colours.
“She is the most dedicated and consistent junior I have coached and I believe that she will not stay in the junior ranks for very long,” he said.
“Her work ethic and commitment make her a stand-out athlete.”
