Dinwiddie Primary School learner Benjamin Nsenga is the school’s junior athlete of 2022.
The 10-year-old competes in the 80m sprint and 70m hurdles. Since last year, he has accumulated 21 medals.
Nsenga has represented his school at all levels – local, district, provincial and the South African school championships.
“My goal is to smash Usain Bolt’s record of 9.58 for the 100m, which he set in the 2009 IAAF World Championships. The athlete I admire the most is Bolt. We both possess the traits of speed and confidence,” said Nsenga.
“I started participating in sports in Grade Two. I started to win medals last year and that boosted my confidence,” said Nsenga.
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“When I am on the track, I forget everything and am focused. Running is also therapeutic and stress-reliving,” he said.
In March, he competed at the Ekurhuleni South District competitions and advanced to the SAs.
He competed in the boys’ U11 hurdles quarterfinals at the SAs, where he was third and ninth overall in South Africa.
Nsenga practices in the morning on Saturdays and works out after school every day during the week.
“Last year I competed in the hurdles event and qualified for the 2022 Ekurhuleni South District (D6) U10 events, where I finished fourth overall,” said Nsenga.
According to the school sports coordinator and coach, Allen Subke, Nsenga is expected to race in the boys’ U11 80m sprint in September.
“He won the school’s award for the best junior athlete of 2022 and by the conclusion of this year, he will be a candidate once more for the athlete of the year title,” said Subke.
“We are proud to have been the only school from Germiston to compete at the SA schools competitions in Pietermaritzburg this year. He has earned his school’s colours in the hurdles and running events and is wearing his regional colours and badge.
“In addition to his physical abilities, he is a dedicated young man who works hard,” said Subke.
The fifth-grade learner will now shift his attention to his studies and his preparation for competitions.
