Soaring to new heights

National long-jump champion Lynique Prinsloo believes the body achieves what the mind believes.This augers well for the University of Johannesburg (UJ) education student, who will be competing in the opening round of the Varsity Athletics competition in Stellenbosch on March 4.

The 24-year-old zoned in on her personal best of 6.81m when she opened her year with a leap of 6.66m at the recent UJ Invitational meeting.“I was very happy with my performance as it was my first competition of the season,” said Prinsloo.

She thinks that considering the time of year, she is already in good form and will hit her peak periods when she needs to. She added that her training in the week leading up to the UJ event, was similar to her normal regime with the focus on less quantity and more quality.

“It is all about preparing mentally and physically while being relaxed and focused. It is basically eat, train, sleep and repeat.”

Prinsloo, said her first competitive jumps of the season provided her and coach Emmarie Fouché with good data before the Varsity Athletics campaign.

They are working towards breaking the 7m barrier this year.“I’m also aiming for a gold medal at the African championships in late June and would like to reach the final in Rio in August,” said Prinsloo.

She said she also worked with Morné Nagel, a former world championship gold medalist in the 4x100m relay.

Prinsloo participated in athletics from the time she was in primary school and initially focused on hurdling.“It was only in high school when I really started to bloom. I enjoyed the short sprints, but long jump turned out to be my calling,” said Prinsloo.

She has already recorded the third best distance ever by a South African. She added that she first competed in the national championships as a Grade 10 pupil and has placed on the podium ever since.

She concluded with three simple provocative words,“Watch this space”.

UJ Athletics, myfuture@uj.ac.za or 011 559 4555.