Cassidy determined to make her mark on world athletics
The uMhlanga resident was recently selected for the SA team at the IAAF Athletics World Cup in London.
CASSIDY Williamson is one of the rising stars on the athletics track. That was for all to see earlier this year at the KwaZulu-Natal Athletics Championships where she was one of the standout performers winning the 100 and 200 metres women races. Her results at the champs and her performances at nationals saw the uMhlanga resident being selected for the SA team at the IAAF Athletics World Cup in London.
The competition featured just eight nations taking part in all events over two days. Williamson, who was meant to take part in the 4×100 metres relay sadly tore her left hamstring just days before the competition.
“The lead up to the games was absolutely phenomenal and the atmosphere around the London Stadium where the competition was held was surreal. I’d represented South Africa before at junior level but this was my first call up in the seniors. I’d never torn my hamstring before so when I injured myself during training I was devastated as I was hoping to leave my mark at the games,” she said.
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Determined to recover from the minor setback the 19-year-old returned to SA to prepare for the African Championships in Athletics in Nigeria.
“I had 10 days to recover from the grade one tear and luckily enough I was able to do just that. I managed to make it through the heats but I managed to tear the same hamstring again. It was just devastating because of all the hard work and training that I’d gone through to be prepared for the games,” she lamented.
However, Williamson said she was now more determined than ever to recover and get back to the upper echelon of SA sprinting.
“At the moment I’m just resting and recovering. It’s a period of building for me ahead of the next race and I’m hoping to make a strong comeback.”
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One thing the former Durban Girls College learner is determined to do is highlight the importance of school athletics.
“Sadly I feel athletics is often overlooked at schools in KZN, it’s not as big as Gauteng. What I would like to see is more schools hosting inter-athletics meetings at senior and junior level. Besides the support and love from my family, the inter-school competition I was involved in helped me become a stronger athlete. It definitely played a huge role in my development,” she said.
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