Bloemfontein’s sprinting sensation Rumé Burger and rising hurdles star Jayden Parkin have both been named in the 51-member Athletics South Africa (ASA) national squad that will compete at the global showpiece in Eugene, Oregon.
The two teenagers have become standout performers on the South African athletics scene and will now get the opportunity to showcase their talent on one of the biggest stages in junior athletics.
Rumé Burger trains with another Free State athlete, Gabriella Marais, for the World Relays in Botswana. Photo: Anton Geyer/ASA
Burger, a high school student at Hoër Meisieskool Oranje, and Parkin, who attends Hoërskool Sentraal, share an interesting connection as both started their sporting journey at Willem Postma primary school in Bloemfontein.
Burger will compete in the women’s U20 200m and will also be part of the South African 4x100m relay team, while Parkin will carry the country’s hopes in the men’s U20 110m hurdles.
The Dutch speedster has had a phenomenal season and continues to underline why she is considered one of South Africa’s brightest young sprint talents.
Earlier this year, Burger captured national attention with a thrilling performance at the Simbine Classic Shootout in Pretoria, where she became the first South African woman to dip below the 17-second mark in the 150 meters, clocking an impressive time of 16.95 seconds.
Jayden Parkin. Photo: Cecilia van Bers
She further cemented her authority on the track by becoming the first 17-year-old athlete to break the South African senior women’s 200m record – a remarkable achievement that cemented her status as a star of the future.
Parkin, meanwhile, also enjoyed a breakthrough season and impressed internationally in June when he cruised to victory in the 110m hurdles at the prestigious Bauhaus Junior Gala in Mannheim, Germany.
Personal best
The Sentraal student also put in a breathtaking run at the Mangaung/Xhariep athletics meet in Bloemfontein earlier this year, where he clocked a personal best of 13.16 seconds.
The performance was considered the fastest U20 time in the world at the time; however, it could not be officially recognized as a leading brand because the Free State Athletics Stadium does not have international accreditation.
Jayden Parkin. Photo: Morgan Piek
Despite that setback, Parkin’s rise has been impossible to ignore. The South African champion will be the country’s sole representative in the men’s 110 meter hurdles at the championships.
The Central Region will have even more reason to celebrate as seven athletes from Athletics Central North West (ACNW) also earn selection for the South African team.
The ACNW group includes the middle distance talents Werner Gouws, who will compete in the men’s 800 meters, and Bertus van der Linde, who will compete in the men’s 1500 meters.
Rume Burger. Photo: Morgan Piek
The region will also have a strong presence in the javelin events, with Jan-Hendrik Heymans and Marques Olivier selected for the men’s competition, while Stephane Hook and Marine Grobler will represent South Africa in the women’s competition.
Andrea Steynberg completes the ACNW contingent and will compete in the women’s 1500m.
With a strong Central South African flavor in the national squad, Burger, Parkin and the ACNW athletes will head to Eugene hoping to make their mark and continue the country’s proud tradition of producing world-class junior athletics talent.
The U20 World Championships will take place in Oregon from August 5 to 9.
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