Parktown’s Maxime Chaumeton prepares for the World Cross Country Championships
PARKTOWN – Maxime Chaumeton has been selected to compete at the World Cross Country Championships next year.
Parktown Boys’ Maxime Chaumeton (18) looks forward in competing in the 8km event at the World Cross Country Championships in Denmark next year.
The enthusiastic runner excelled in the U20 juniors division at the SA Championships, finishing 8th overall in a time of 00:24:58.
After competing in three African Championships over the years, Maxime is ecstatic about the opportunity to compete on the world stage.
“This opportunity means a lot of open doors for me,” he said.
“It allows me to spread my wings. I don’t know how to explain my joy. I believe that if I do well there, I am secured for life. My goal is to reach the top 25.”
Maxime trains under South African marathon runner Hendrick Ramaala as part of the NN Running team which trains at Zoo Lake and at Wits Education Campus. He first encountered Ramaala four years ago at a race where he competed against his son. “I beat his son in a sprint finish with no formal training and he took me under his wing from there,” said Maxime.
Looking forward to the World Championships, Maxime added, “I am going to put my heart out in training, work hard with training partners, remain disciplined and focused throughout the holidays and most importantly listen to my coach.”
His goal is to run professionally after school and make the Olympics in 2020. “I want to live the life that my coach has. His running has guided his life and taken him to four Olympics, the New York Marathon and London Marathon.”
Maxime said he would run 10km a day during term time and 21km a day during the December holidays to prepare for the world championships in March.
“My coach is the reason for my success thus far. He has guided me all the way and pulled me aside and helped me to focus. His wife Rodica Morianu has been a support to us all. We call her our running mom.”
The headmaster at Parktown Boys’ High School Malcolm Williams said, “We are extremely proud of Max who continues to excel in the 1 500m, 3 000m and 800m at inter-schools events. For two years, he has remained unbeaten in the 1 500m and 3 000m at inter-school events and for the whole of the cross-country [season]. Mental preparation is key to this sport. This young man’s level of dedication is commendable and he shows no arrogance.”
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