The success of the Athletics South Africa (ASA) u-18 Youth and u-20 Junior Championships, held at the Dal Josaphat Stadium in Paarl recently, helped to instil a fresh confidence in SAs athletic talent.<\/p>\n
The three-day championships, which were interspersed with rain disruptions, as well as warm weather conditions, attracted near-capacity crowds.<\/p>
\u201cWe are thrilled with the wonderful outcome from the well organised and well executed championships which have re-assured us as a country that South African athletics has a great future,\u201d said a super excited president of ASA, Aleck Skhosana.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a brilliant show of talent from which we saw new champions, broken records and personal bests.\u201d<\/p>
Among the athletes making their mark at the championships was Germiston\u2019s Pedro Aaron (19), who competed in and won the u-20 long jump event.<\/p>\n
He won the event with a 7.42m jump, which he felt he could have improved on.<\/p>\n
This was his third consecutive medal at the championships, in as many years.<\/p>\n
Aaron and his coach Stephan\u00e8 Kotz\u00e8 visited the GCN to share his experiences at the championships.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe championships were awesome. I didn\u2019t even mind the weather,\u201d Aaron said with a laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a little windy and cold when Aaron jumped \u2013 not the ideal conditions for athletics,\u201d Kotz\u00e8 added.<\/p>\n
His performance at the championships secured Aaron\u2019s place in the South Africa team for the CAA Southern Region Youth and Junior Championships, which will be held at the Boksburg Athletics Stadium, this weekend (April 27 and 28).<\/p>\n
Athletes from across Africa will compete in the event and Aaron is training hard in preparation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am hoping with all my training I will be able to jump even further than I did in Paarl,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Aaron hopes, with his efforts at the CAA Southern Region Youth and Junior Championships, will help him secure a spot in the World Championships that will be held in Finland in June.<\/p>\n
Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n