The success of the Athletics South Africa (ASA) u-18 Youth and u-20 Junior Championships, held at the Dal Josaphat Stadium in Paarl recently, helped to instil a fresh confidence in SAs athletic talent.
The three-day championships, which were interspersed with rain disruptions, as well as warm weather conditions, attracted near-capacity crowds.
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“We are thrilled with the wonderful outcome from the well organised and well executed championships which have re-assured us as a country that South African athletics has a great future,” said a super excited president of ASA, Aleck Skhosana.
“It was a brilliant show of talent from which we saw new champions, broken records and personal bests.”
Among the athletes making their mark at the championships was Germiston’s Pedro Aaron (19), who competed in and won the u-20 long jump event.
He won the event with a 7.42m jump, which he felt he could have improved on.
This was his third consecutive medal at the championships, in as many years.
Aaron and his coach Stephanè Kotzè visited the GCN to share his experiences at the championships.
“The championships were awesome. I didn’t even mind the weather,” Aaron said with a laugh.
“It was a little windy and cold when Aaron jumped – not the ideal conditions for athletics,” Kotzè added.
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His performance at the championships secured Aaron’s place in the South Africa team for the CAA Southern Region Youth and Junior Championships, which will be held at the Boksburg Athletics Stadium, this weekend (April 27 and 28).
Athletes from across Africa will compete in the event and Aaron is training hard in preparation.
“I am hoping with all my training I will be able to jump even further than I did in Paarl,” he said.
Aaron hopes, with his efforts at the CAA Southern Region Youth and Junior Championships, will help him secure a spot in the World Championships that will be held in Finland in June.
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