Rorisang keeps raising the bar
Rising high jump star Rorisang Makaleng aims for top honours in his favourite sport.
POLOKWANE – This Gr 11 learner from PEPPS is currently one of the top u/18 high jump athletes in South Africa with a personal best of 2 m.
“I enrolled at PEPPS in Gr 3 and began participating in high jump when I was in Gr 5. Aside from high jump I also did long distance and cross country running but decided to focus all of my attention on high jump. I love athletics, it is a wonderful sport,” says Rorisang.
This keen high jumper says his talent was first spotted by the primary sports coach at PEPPS, Nico Loots. He says since Gr 7 the school’s preparatory sports head and coach, Rick Proctor, also started to train him to help him with new techniques and to develop his skills.
Rorisang has qualified to compete at the South African Schools Championship since he was in Gr 5 with the only exception being last year when he injured his back during a competition.
Earlier this year, Rorisang competed in the South African Athletics Championship in Cape Town and on the advice of his coach, Rick, he decided to compete in the Athletics South Africa Club Championship.
Here Rorisang competed in the u/18 age group against about 20 of the country’s top high jumpers at the Athletics South Africa Championship and finished with an impressive seventh place overall.
“I injured my ankle earlier this season and despite my coaches and teachers’ advice to rather wait until next year to compete, I took my chances and finished in seventh place overall. I am satisfied with this result taking into consideration the circumstances,” says Rorisang.
“Injury should not be a justification for why you are unable to give your best, this was my point of view when I entered this year’s SA’s.”
With his personal best at 2 m, Rorisang feels even more motivated and determined to shine in high jump as the athlete who won second place at this year’s SA’s recorded a height of 1,95 m.
“This motivates me even more for next year’s season. This mean without injury I can truly compete with the best.
“I will continue to push hard, whether in training or in competition, and not give up. I am seventh best in South Africa with an injury, so I am confident for next year’s season.”
Rorisang adds he plans to start with training as soon as the third school term commences. Going to the gymnasium is like a hobby, he said, “exercise is the perfect stress reliever”.
