Eleven-year-old Fish Hoek running sensation Eva Hanekom has capped a phenomenal season off by placing 29th out of 151 elite athletes in the u-12 girls division at the SA Cross-Country Championships in Pretoria today. 

Making her national debut at high altitude against the absolute finest young long-distance runners from across South Africa, the young athlete handled the immense pressure with maturity, according to her proud father, André Hanekom.

He said the family, bursting with pride over Eva’s latest milestone achievement, were travelling home to the Western Province with hearts full and memories that are unforgettable.

The national event served as the culmination of a dominant season for the Fish Hoek Primary School learner. 

Eva successfully secured the U12 Girls Club league title earlier this year by remarkably winning all seven consecutive races in the WP Athletics Cross-Country Club League. 

Athletic excellence runs deep in her blood, following in the historic local footsteps of her great-aunt, who excelled as a Western Province middle-distance runner.

Versatile star

Eva’s impressive athletic versatility spans far beyond cross-country running; she also plays first-team hockey, mountain bikes and competitive swimming.

Her demanding weekly routine relies on a rigorous balance of early morning squad sessions, club time-trials, and cross-country training runs extending from her school corridors down to the beach.

Following their brilliant athletic family member’s national success the Hanekoms expressed their gratitude to all who supported her unstintingly on this extraordinary journey — her dedicated coaches, teachers, teammates and the Southern Peninsula community.

ALSO READ: Promising Southern Peninsula runner heads to Pretoria for national club championship