Kyeta gears up for world marathon champs
Our Lady of Fatima pupil is confident she can make the SA squad for the world champs.
THE last two years has brought a whirlwind of success for La Lucia’s Kyeta Purchase. The Our Lady of Fatima pupil is confident of securing a spot on the South African World Marathon squad, but her first priority is on winning the SA marathon champs in Cape Town later this year.
The 17-year-old will be eager to repeat last year’s performance which saw her win the K1 and K2 (partnering with Mt Edgecombe’s Jenna Ward) categories.
“It’s an honour to represent your country on any platform, it’s going to be tough but I’m confident that I will make the SA squad. Beyond that my goal is to go to the world champs and improve on my results from last year. My coach, Lee McGregor, has been a huge help and has been motivating me to reach new heights in the sport. He knows exactly what it takes to be a champion,” she said.
Purchase competes across three platforms in surfski, sprints and marathon paddling.
One story that epitomises Purchases’ mental fortitude and toughness was when she burst her appendix at the world marathon champs in Hungary.
“I wasn’t feeling well on the plane back to South Africa, my mom thought it was a tummy bug. But the pain just got worse and after we landed in Durban, I was rushed to hospital for an emergency appendectomy. I was on the plane two days later leaving for the world marathon surfski champs in Tahiti,” she said.
What’s more she placed first in the junior division and fourth in the U23 category.
“I spent a few days in Tahiti before the race and I was a little sore. I was determined I wasn’t going to miss the race. At the moment I’m just enjoying my paddling and I want to keep on doing well and hopefully make the squad for the world champs,” she said.
