Gilbert, Van Blerk making inroads
Kayla Gilbert and Danie van Blerk are two stand-out local athletes who have made significant personal improvements over the years.
Both Gilbert and van Blerk are coached by Stephané Kotze, at BK Callies.
Van Blerk, from Witfield, started training with Kotze in May, 2012, and has since improved on his performances.
He received a bronze medal in the u-23 flat 200m sprint and finished fourth in the 100m, at the South African Championships, held earlier this year, in Pretoria.
He also recently finished in the top eight in the South African Senior Championships, for both sprint distances.
“I would like to compete in international events and stretch myself a bit more,” he said.
Gilbert, who has recently moved from Boksburg to Germiston, realised her passion for athletics at the age of four and has been at it ever since.
She has been under Kotze’s wing for a decade now and has been going from strength to strength.
Some of her achievements include:
* Winning both the long jump and the 100m hurdles race when she was selected for the South African team to represent the country in Botswana, at the Southern Regional Championships (2010).
* Being part of the African junior team to compete in the African Junior Championships and winning the 100m hurdles.
* Winning the 100m hurdles race at the South African Championships for the third time in a row, in 2012.
* Central Gauteng Athlete of the Year for 2010 and 2011.
“I am passionate about this sport and I always strive to do my best,” she said.
Gilbert and van Blerk broke four records between them — the men’s and women’s 60m and 150m sprints — when they competed in an athletics meeting, in Pretoria, on October 5.
Gilbert recently took part in the Gauteng Central hurdles meeting and finished in a time of 13.47 seconds in the 100m hurdles, which was a personal best.
Both took part in the Central Gauteng League meeting that was held in early November, at the Germiston Stadium.
Gilbert recorded more personal best times of 13.12s in the 100m hurdles, and 11.15s in the 100m sprint, which put her in first place for both races.
Van Blerk had a few personal bests too, running 10.03s in the 100m sprint and 21s in the 200m sprint, which saw him placed second in both races.
