Shot-putter throws PB distance in CGA meet

Sometimes change is important to improve and thrive.

This seems to be what young shot-putter Lanelda Herbst from Boksburg Athletic Club (BAC) needed.

The 11-year-old has seen a major improvement in her performances, recording improved distances in her category this season, since she switched to the Smart Throwers Academy in May.

In all three CGA sub-youth track and field league meetings, the 11-year-old grabbed the first spot with improved distances that have seen her dominate the girls’ U11 shot put category.

Herbst, a Grade Five learner at Laerskool Randhart, broke the 11m mark for the first time this season on November 4 at Germiston Stadium, after throwing a personal best distance of 11.36m.

That distance was 63cm better than her throw of 10.73m in the second meeting on October 14, which also bettered her season-opening distance of 9.97m on September 30, by 76cm.

The constant improvement has left her coach Eben Vermaas, who described the shot-putter as a future national and world champion, beaming with pride.

“I always knew Lanelda could achieve great throws. She was landing good ones during training sessions. She still has a long way to go to perfect her shot put technique,” said Vermaas.

The coach expressed his excitement after seeing Herbst’s monstrous throw, saying it filled him with joy to celebrate her achievements.

“It motivates me to continue coaching. My passion is to work with raw talent and see the athletes progress from the schools to South African championships and potentially worlds in the future.”

He cautioned against putting her under pressure, adding it was important to develop a love of the sport first.

Previously coached by former national champion and holder of the South African senior women’s shot put record, Drienke van Wyk, whose 17.88m from 2002 is still unbroken, the youngster is enjoying life under Vermaas, but it’s evident where she gets her competitiveness from.

“She apparently recorded throws of around seven metres in February, but since joining my academy, she improved her mark by about four metres.

“My focus with Lanelda and her teammates is to develop them into talented senior athletes for South Africa, who will receive scholarships from universities locally and abroad,” he said.

Vermaas explained he doesn’t want to put Lanelda under pressure, but hopes for a podium finish at both the provincial championship on November 18 and inter-provincials in December.

“It is difficult to predict the outcome at their age as their nerves can get the better of them on race day. However, I would like to think she is capable of a podium position. I firmly believe she will be a force to be reckoned with for a time to come.”

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