At just 14 years old, Angell Pholman from Langebaan is rapidly establishing herself as one of the most exciting young middle-distance athletes in South African school athletics.
Now a Grade 8 learner at Hopefield High School, she has carried her remarkable primary-school form into the high school arena with impressive determination and maturity.
Angell’s athletics journey has already been marked by consistent excellence. During her primary school years she dominated the national stage, becoming the South African champion in the 1 200 m for two consecutive years from 2023 to 2024. In 2025, competing in the u-13 girls’ category, she again proved her ability among the country’s best by finishing second at the South African Championships in both the 800 m and the 1 500m.
Angell’s talent soon earned international recognition. In 2025 she represented South Africa at the Confederation of School Sport Associations of Southern Africa (Cossasa) Games in Eswatini, competing in the 400 m and 800 m. She delivered an outstanding performance and returned home as the Cossasa champion in the 800 m.
Now competing in the high-school ranks, Angell’s 2026 season has been exceptional. She holds the titles of West Coast, West Boland, Boland and Western Cape High School champion in both the 800 m and 1 500 m. Her performances have also rewritten the record books: she broke the WC High School records with a blistering 2:13.20 in the 800 m and an outstanding 4:36.29 in the 1 500 m.
What makes these achievements even more remarkable is how her times compare across age groups.
In the Western Cape high school rankings only u-17 girls have recorded faster times than her 800 m performance, while her 1 500 m time is faster than those recorded by athletes in the u-15 to u-19 categories. For a 14-year-old competing in her first year of high school athletics, this is an extraordinary accomplishment.
Angell believes her achievements are the result of hard work and dedication. “My passion for athletics started in Grade 4 and means a lot to me. It is a path to a better future.”
She trains with coach Christopher Rodgers at the Langebaan Athletics Club, with more than 30 years of athletics experience. He believes strongly in long-term athlete development, often reminding his athletes that success required patience and hard work. “There is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
Angell’s journey is also supported by a strong local community. The Langebaan Sports Development Foundation provides financial assistance to help her pursue her athletics goals, while Stiaan and Ronel Viljoen have also offered valuable support. In addition, South African Olympic silver medallist Elana Meyer sponsored her with two pairs of running spikes a meaningful gesture from one of the country’s greatest distance runners.
Despite her growing list of achievements Angell remains grounded, disciplined and focused on continuous improvement. She was selected to compete at the Athletics South Africa Championships in the 800 m and 1 500 m, which will take place in Germiston from Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 March.
Angell’s next major challenge awaits when she represents Western Cape High Schools at the South African Schools Athletics Championships from Saturday 9 to Monday 11 May at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in North West.
With her talent, work ethic and strong support network she is certainly an athlete to watch as she continues her promising athletics journey. Angell encourages other young athletes to work hard and not give up. “Focus on your goals and don’t let emotions control you!”
