Doran makes her mark after achieving first national medal
She clocked 05:16, setting a new personal best in the event.
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Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) athlete Jade Doran seems destined to become a quality steeplechase runner after achieving her first national medal during the ASA youth track and field championships in Pretoria.
As her coach Michael van Aswegen said, she ran a tactically perfect race at Pilditch Stadium, chalking off 14 seconds from her personal best after clocking 05:16 for the bronze medal in the girls’ U16 1 500m steeplechase.
“I’m extremely grateful to have even had the opportunity to run at the ASA champs. I wasn’t aiming for a medal. All I wanted to do was better my personal best,” she said.
It was a tight contest but the Benoni High learner should pat herself on the back for a well-executed race and challenging for a medal position until the end, despite her legs almost giving in on the last lap.
“The race was tough, as all races should be. I tried a different tactic by staying towards the back at the start to avoid getting pushed and shoved. I then stayed at a comfortable pace and slowly made my way towards the front.”
Faced with 15 jumps, which included 12 barriers and three water jumps, in the three-lap race, she missed the top position by just four seconds. Athletics Gauteng North’s Carmia van den Bern took the gold in 05:12 and her teammate Zanta Lourens claimed the silver two seconds later.
“This was one of the best races I’ve run this season, cutting off 14 seconds from my PB. I felt really good until the last lap where my legs started falling off. But I pushed myself to my limits and ran as fast as I could,” she said.
“After my last water jump, the finish line was in sight and before I had even finished, joy was already overflowing my body.”
Although Doran still competes in the shortest version of the event, the lanky and slender athlete is better suited to the obstacle race and she should be able to challenge for medals once she makes the jump to the 2 000m and 3 000m events.
“It’s exciting that all the hard work that coach Michael and I have put in this season has paid off. I can’t wait to see what next year’s season brings,” said Doran.
Van Aswegen explained Doran’s achievement was the icing on the cake for all her hard work.
“Tactically, she ran the perfect race. She can be very proud of how she conducted herself,” he said.
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