Bloemfontein’s sprint sensation Rumé Burger and rising hurdles star Jayden Parkin have both been named in Athletics South Africa’s (ASA) 51-member 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 have the opportunity to showcase their talent on one of the biggest stages in junior athletics.

Rumé Burger training with another Free State athlete, Gabriella Marais, for the World Relays in Botswana. Photo: Anton Geyer/ASA

Burger, a matric learner at Hoër Meisieskool Oranje, and Parkin, who attends Hoërskool Sentraal, share an interesting connection, with both having started their sporting journeys at Willem Postma Primary School in Bloemfontein.

Burger will line up in the women’s U20 200m and will also form part of South Africa’s 4x100m relay team, while Parkin will carry the country’s hopes in the men’s U20 110m hurdles.

The Oranje speedster has enjoyed a phenomenal season and continues to underline why she is considered one of South Africa’s brightest young sprinting talents. 

Earlier this year, Burger grabbed national attention with a blistering performance at the Simbine Classic Shootout in Pretoria, where she became the first South African woman to dip under the 17-second barrier in the 150m, clocking an impressive 16.95 seconds.

Jayden Parkin. Photo: Cecilia van Bers

She further stamped 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 confirmed her status as a star for the future.

Parkin, meanwhile, has also enjoyed a breakthrough season and made his mark internationally in June when he raced to victory in the 110m hurdles at the prestigious Bauhaus Junior Gala in Mannheim, Germany.

Personal best

The Sentraal learner also produced a breathtaking run earlier in the year at the Mangaung/Xhariep athletics meeting in Bloemfontein, where he clocked a personal best of 13.16 seconds. 

The performance was regarded as the fastest U20 time in the world at that stage; however, it could not be officially recognised as a world-leading mark 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 only representative in the men’s 110m hurdles at the championships.

The central region will have even more reason to celebrate, with seven athletes from Athletics Central North West (ACNW) also earning selection for the South African team.

The ACNW group includes middle-distance talents Werner Gouws, who will compete in the men’s 800m, and Bertus van der Linde, who will take on the men’s 1500m.

Rumé Burger. Photo: Morgan Piek

The region will also boast 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 event.

Andrea Steynberg completes the ACNW contingent and will compete in the women’s 1500m.

With a strong central South African flavour in the national squad, Burger, Parkin and the ACNW athletes will head to Eugene hoping to leave their mark and continue the country’s proud tradition of producing world-class junior athletics talent.

The U20 World Championships in Oregon will be staged from 5 to 9 August.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg