Stellenbosch University (SU) athletes made a mark at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) national championship, bringing four medals home. This is according to Heinrich Fortuin, who coaches three of the athletes.
The ASA championship took place from 30 March to 1 April, according to Sifiso Cele, media liaison consultant from ASA.
Taste of victory
Keagon Fourie won gold after achieving a personal best of 2.25m in the high jump. Fourie was previously a coaching assistant for Stellenbosch University’s (SU) sports science students, he said. He told SMF News that he had been competing in ASA leagues since 2010, and is a two time national champion.
Two bronze medals were awarded to two current SU students; Breyton Poole, a high jump athlete who is studying a PGDip degree in marketing and also received a new personal best, according to Poole. Jason October, a hurdles athlete and a current BA humanities student also received a bronze medal, said Fortuin. October ran a personal best in the 110m hurdles, he said.
Maties alumni Gardeo Isaacs, a 400m track athlete, also received a bronze medal with a new personal best, according to Isaacs.
Fourie, Isaacs and October train with Fortuin and fellow coach Taunia Cookson, while Poole is trained by Maurice Fisher.
“Short term goal is to win a medal at the World Student Games in China at the end of July. Long term goals will be to qualify for the Paris Olympics happening in 2024,” contended Breyton Poole, a high-jump athlete who won a bronze medal at the recent Athletics South Africa Championship. PHOTO: Supplied by Breyton Poole
A ‘well-balanced’ team
“There is a lot going on behind the scenes to help get them where they need to be,” explained Fortuin.
Fortuin is in charge of the athletes’ technical training and programming, while Cookson oversees their warm ups, mental and emotional wellbeing, said Cookson.
“I think we have a very unique balance, which is what separates us from the other teams… I love learning with them and growing with them,” said Cookson.
The results would not have been possible without their coaches and their “well-balanced”, team, said the athletes.
“It’s great to have people around you that inspire you to do better. They are like brothers to me and it’s really nice to learn from each other on and off the track,” said Breyton Poole, a high jump athlete that claimed bronze at the recent Athletics South Africa Championship, about his three fellow athletes. From left to right: Keagan Fourie, Jason October, Gardeo Isaacs. PHOTO: Mia van der Merwe
Future plans
The athletes are now focusing on individual goals and competitions they want to qualify for, said Fortuin.
Isaacs is working towards the Botswana Golden Grand Prix, while October is preparing for University Sports South Africa (USSA) in Bloemfontein, taking place over the first weekend of May, stated Cookson.
“I have two coaches, Heinrich Fortuin and Taunia Cookson, and they have definitely played a role in my success on the track. Training ranges from 1 to 2 hours a day, 5 times a week,” explained Jason October (left) whilst setting up for training with Keagan Fourie (right). PHOTO: Mia van der Merwe