The Bloemfontein-based St Michael’s School for Girls is optimistic about making a positive impact at the upcoming Athletics South Africa Sub-Youth National Championships, taking place in the city.
This confidence stems from strong representation – ten athletes set to compete – in the two-day event, which starts on Friday 6 December and will end on Saturday.
This is quite remarkable when considering that athletics was not previously one of the school’s primary focus sports.
An increase in representation rewards the school’s efforts and investment in the development of athletics, with the chief objective of discovering and identifying talented athletes who are capable of representing the Free State and South Africa internationally.
The transformation with regards to athletics began when Samantha Ross joined the school in 2023.
“Despite athletics not being a focus area, she believed in the potential of the learners. With her determination and consistent efforts, she worked tirelessly to cultivate a love for athletics among the students. Recognising the need for specialised expertise, she brought Gideon Trotter on board as the sprints coach,” stated the school.
“His background in athletics, combined with his ability to connect with children, proved to be a game-changer.”
