Young hurdler's razor-thin margin secures South Africa team spot
Record-breaking sprinter and thrower earns regional competition spot through dominant domestic performance
Zayden Pistorius clocked 11.16 seconds in the U13 boys’ 80m hurdles at the South African Schools Athletics Track and Field Championships in Cape Town this past March, winning gold by one-thousandth of a second over runner-up Liam Kriek. That margin, razor-thin and hard-earned, helped earn the Laerskool Baanbrekker learner a place on the South African team heading to the Confederation of School Sport Associations of Southern Africa (COSSASA) Games in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, scheduled from August 31 to September 3.
Competing for Gauteng and the Brakpan Athletics Club, Pistorius did not stop at the hurdles. He added a second gold in the discus with a throw of 46.69m, defeating runner-up Eithan Gerhard by 0.95m. Two golds. Two records. One championship.
The performances cap a two-season stretch in which Pistorius has broken seven South African primary schools hurdles records, shattered the primary schools discus record, and narrowly missed the shot put record. The volume of records rewritten points to something more than a single good day.
Much of that consistency traces back to Freeway Park, where throwing and sprinting specialist Nicholas Jansen van Vuuren took Pistorius under his wing three years ago. The first season together was difficult by the coach’s own account. “Our first year together wasn’t great, but since then, he has been improving,” Jansen van Vuuren said. The two subsequent years have produced a steady upward curve, built on private sessions and a training regimen Pistorius describes as the foundation of everything he has achieved.
“I worked hard all season. It was a rewarding season, and it’s all because of the private sessions with my coach that I managed to achieve good results,” the 13-year-old said.
Jansen van Vuuren, who also coaches sprinters Jessica Botha and his son Donovan, is direct about what sets his athlete apart. “He’s a hard worker. From when we started, he has shown tremendous commitment and dedication. He’s multitalented in everything.”
By contrast, the athlete himself frames his development in quieter terms, tracing it back well before the records and the selection. “I developed my love for the sport in pre-school. It came naturally. I’ve enjoyed the journey. I’ve worked hard, and I’m thankful to have found a coach who guided me to this success,” Pistorius reflected.
For Pistorius, the COSSASA selection carries particular weight. “It feels very good. I want to thank God for my talent and my coach for pushing me all the time,” he said, describing the national call-up as the pinnacle of his athletic career to date.
The Zimbabwe competition will place him alongside regional peers from across Southern Africa, offering the clearest measure yet of where his record-breaking season stands against the broader field. Whether the margins he posted in Cape Town hold up at that level is the question the Bulawayo track will answer.
Q&A
What were Pistorius's winning times and distances at the South African Schools Athletics Championships?
Pistorius clocked 11.16 seconds in the U13 boys' 80m hurdles, winning by one-thousandth of a second, and threw 46.69m in the discus, defeating his nearest competitor by 0.95m.
How many records has Pistorius broken over the past two seasons?
Pistorius has broken seven South African primary schools hurdles records and shattered the primary schools discus record, while narrowly missing the shot put record.
Who is Pistorius's coach and where does he train?
Nicholas Jansen van Vuuren, a throwing and sprinting specialist, coaches Pistorius at Freeway Park. Jansen van Vuuren took Pistorius under his wing three years ago and also coaches sprinters Jessica Botha and his son Donovan.
What is the COSSASA Games and when will it take place?
The COSSASA Games (Confederation of School Sport Associations of Southern Africa) is a regional competition scheduled for August 31 to September 3 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, where Pistorius will compete against peers from across Southern Africa.