16 Sep Van Wyk’s vision: Keeping young talent on track with Little Athletics
By Adnaan Mohamed
CAPE TOWN: Western Province Athletics is hoping to turn Saturday’s Little Athletics meeting in Atlantis into another launchpad for the province’s next generation of track and field stars.
The WPA Little Athletics programme, hosted by Velocity Athletics Club at Wesfleur Track on Saturday, 19 September, is designed to give young athletes exposure to competitive athletics while creating a pathway towards provincial and national representation.
A total of 346 athletes are expected to compete between 08:00 and 12:55, with boys and girls from Under-7 to Under-13 taking part across a broad programme of track and field events.
For WPA Track & Field chairperson Emil van Wyk, the real objective extends well beyond Saturday’s results.
“The primary school kids go to high school. Then they already establish in netball, cricket, rugby, soccer,” van Wyk said.
“Athletics at primary school level, school level, is very good, but not so much at a club level. So that’s why we started Little Athletics from a club level point of view, so that we can at least retain athletes.”
That retention strategy is already producing encouraging numbers.
The first meeting at Blue Downs attracted about 316 entries, while Saturday’s Atlantis event has grown to 346.
WPA is deliberately moving competitions around the province to expose more children to organised athletics and broaden its talent pool.
“The level of competition at that level is extremely high,” van Wyk said. “The kids are really working hard. You see the talent, the talent is out there and we need to attract more.”
Last year provided an early glimpse of what the programme can produce.
Western Province finished fourth nationally at the Little Athletics event in Potchefstroom, with Lamicah Adamson among the province’s medallists. Adamson has since moved into her first year of high school.
Dylan Calvert, meanwhile, won both the 80m and 100m last year and is competing in the Under-11 age group this season.
The road to Rustenburg is already taking shape.
Young athletes hoping to qualify for the Western Province team for December’s national event must compete in at least two qualifying competitions, meet the required standards and take part in the November championships.
Saturday is therefore another rung on a ladder that can eventually lead from local competition to provincial colours and the national stage.
WPA’s programme also carries an important access message. All the competitions are open to schoolchildren, with club membership not required.
The next meeting is scheduled for 3 October at Blue Downs, with the Western Province Championships to follow at Green Point Stadium.
Van Wyk says transportation remains one of the biggest obstacles to getting more young athletes into the system.
“We would love to accommodate everyone, provide transport, but obviously now from a cost point of view, from the federation side, it’s a bit challenging.”
The hope is that facilities such as Mandela Park will eventually allow WPA to take Little Athletics deeper into underserved communities.
“If you attended the competition last year in Potchefstroom, you wouldn’t think that these are primary school kids,” van Wyk said. “They’re so focused on the event and they’re so professional at a young age.”
“The key for us is to keep them in the sport, so that obviously they can represent the province through the ranks, through junior ranks, through senior ranks.”
For now, Wesfleur is the next stop.
For 346 youngsters, it could be another Saturday morning of racing, jumping and throwing. For a handful, it could be the first serious step towards a Western Province vest and beyond.
The talent is on the track. WPA’s challenge is keeping it there.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON WPA LITTLE ATHLETICS MEETING IN ATLANTIS.
