Northcliff runner, Gené Coetzee represented South Africa at the World Cross-Country Championships 2019 in Denmark.
The 16-year-old took on older runners in the U20 category and did well to finish 39th in the 6km run in Aarhus. This helped South Africa finish an impressive fifth at the tournament.
For her training, the cross-country runner often runs through Alberts Farm or over Northcliff Hill. Her coach, Riaan Strydom is himself a former middle- and long-distance running star from the ’80s and ’90s .
“Obviously all coaches want to see their athletes compete at the highest level, and that is the Olympic Games as a senior runner,” he said, adding that competing at the 2024 Summer Olympics was their goal.
“For now we are taking it one step at a time. The goal is to avoid injuries, train hard and nurture her passion for athletics.”
Strydom said the runner’s love for the sport and desire to win are her greatest attributes, and which contribute most to her success.
“Gené loves running and as long as we can keep it up as a team, the sky is the limit. She is very talented and at this stage she is one of the best in South Africa. She receives a lot of support from her parents, Jaco and Eulene.”
Strydom said he first noticed Gené when she was a social runner and performed at her school’s athletics meeting in Grade 7.
He approached Gené and her parents and they agreed to let Strydom train Gené, which he has done since July 2016.
“She is extremely dedicated and her perseverance is exceptional,” Strydom concluded about his runner.
