Eleven-year-old running sensation Eva Hanekom and Fish Hoek Primary School learner, continues her winning steak after securing her first-ever ticket to the SA Schools Cross Country Nationals following a recent bronze-medal performance.
Competing at the Western Cape Schools Cross Country Championships in Riversdale on Saturday 12 September, Hanekom lined up against the absolute finest young distance runners from the Cape Metro, Boland, Eden, and Central Karoo regions.
Tactical race
Undeterred by the high-stakes environment, Eva ran a tactical race to finish third overall in the u-12 girls division, locking in her national qualification to represent Western Province, according to her proud father, Andre.
“What makes today even more special — she ran the 3 km in an incredible 10:52, averaging 3:37/km, almost a full minute faster than her time of last year! A beautiful reminder of just how much can change in one year with hard work, consistency and determination,” he said.
Her podium finish anchored a dominant showing for the Cape Metro, which swept all three top spots in the category, he added.”Last year Eva didn’t qualify for Nationals.
First nationals
This year, four Cape Metro u-12 girls are going through, and for Eva, this will be her first-ever SA Schools Cross Country Nationals — just one month after competing at her first ASA Club Cross Country Nationals,” he said.
This milestone comes hot on the heels of Hanekom’s debut at the ASA Club Cross Country Nationals in Pretoria, where she placed 29th out of 151 elite athletes at high altitude after dominating the Western Province Athletics Cross-Country Club League with an unbeaten seven-race streak.
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.
“We are beyond proud of this girl. The early mornings, training sessions, tough races, disappointments, determination and sheer hard work have all led to this moment,” he shared, praising her consistency.
Hanekom, who also plays first-team hockey, competitive swimming, and mountain bikes, will now travel to Gauteng for the National Schools Championships on Friday 2 October and Saturday 3 October.
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