Marceghlle brings home gold
A young Carletonville athlete walked away as the national champion in his distance last week.
Marceghlle Wakefield, a Grade 10 learner at Monument High School in Krugersdorp, participated in the SASA (SA School Athletics) National Championships at Germiston Stadium from 2 to 5 April.
Marceghlle held Carletonville’s name high when he won gold in the u.16 1,500 m after finishing in a time of 4:02:52.
“I was kind of shocked but then realised that everyone had worked hard and only one person could win,” the humble young champion told the Herald on Tuesday.
This was not Marceghlle’s only significant achievement recently, however. He also excelled at the ASA (Athletics South Africa) National Championships at Msunduzi Athletics Stadium in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, from 23 to 25 March.
Although Marceghlle is just 16, he ran the 1,500 m in the Men’s u.18 category and finished second. He also achieved a new personal best time of 3:52:03, clocking in just 1:05 seconds behind the winner.
According to Marceghlle, his latest achievements have motivated him to tackle this year’s cross-country season, from May until September, with more energy.
“It was a great feeling; it inspired me,” he says. Marceghlle started running the 1,500 m about six years ago when he was still in Laerskool Jongspan. Although he excelled in many races, this was his first national victory.
Phyllis De Fouw is his coach.
