Thato scoops gold medal at SA Athletics Championships

Thato Magoma proved to be the best in her event at the South African Schools Athletics National Primary Schools (SASANPS) championships recently held in Potchefstroom.

The nine-year-old Morester Primary School Grade Four learner represented Gauteng in the 1 200m u-10 girls race and scooped a gold medal.

Winning the finals in a time of 4:08 she was crowned the best u-10 athletics at the event.

Thato says she did exactly what her coach Victor Raseala (39) had told her to do.

“I was told to keep my focus in front of me, to keep the pace and to sprint the last 200m to the finish line,” she says.

She did exactly the same at the semi-finals held a week prior to the finals.

Her doubts and uncertainty at the semi-finals did not get the better of her.

“I watched another athlete in front of me and frustration went through my mind as I thought she was much better than me and I would never be able to beat her,” she says.

However, Thato realised she had to pull herself towards herself and focus on the race just as the coach had told her to do.

She won the semi-finals in 4:38 and decided to better her time in the finals.

Deciding to change her tactics she ran the finals with a more focussed mind.

“When I reached the 200m line of the final round I decided to sprint to the finish line.

“Obeying my coach’s instructions I won the gold medal,” she says.

Thato says she is proud of her performance and achievement.

She praised her coach Victor and commended him for his support and cooperation since January.

“My parents, Donald and Mavis Magoma, are my biggest fans and their encouragement means a lot to me.”

Victor says Thato is a humble athlete who trains very hard and spends most of her time practising athletics.

As well as running, Thato also loves reading.

Thato’s principal Kochie Koch says they are extremely proud of her.

“She is a wonderful ambassador for our school,” he says.