Although it was Stellenberg High School who were crowned champions for a fifth consecutive year, Tygerberg’s William Fielies, 13, from Kuils River made the perfect debut to high school athletics, where he won gold in the boys’ under-14 100m and 400m sprints, at the MTBS athletics meet, at the Green Point track, last weekend.
The youngster also came second in the boys’ under-14 90m hurdles and he was part of the boys’ under-14 4x100m relay team that came second. He also was the third highest point scorer in the age group at the MTBS.
Despite Stellenberg finishing with a massive 1 272 points, followed by DF Malan, Bellville and Tygerberg, the Grade 8 pupil made the most of his events.
He will now look to emulate his performance, at the Northern Zone championships, at the Bellville Velodrome, later this month.
William said doing so well in his first MTBS competition had set the tone for the rest of the athletics season.
“It felt so good taking part in the MTBS, but I still have a lot to learn. Ahead of my 90m hurdles event I got nervous when I saw my competition but I remembered what my mother Michelle Klue told me before my event. ‘William just stay focused, do your thing and have fun’,” he said
The youngster said that if he wants to do well at the upcoming zonal champs he needs to be more focused and to keep on pushing.
“The competition will be from a high standard as all the top athletes in the northern suburbs will go head to head. I need to dig deeper and give it my all,” he said.
William, who has never made it to the Western Province championships, believes this is his year to shine and impress.
“I surprised myself and everyone else at the MTBS. I am just a few more competitions away from reaching my goal and hopefully I can go on to represent WP at the Western Cape championships. Things won’t get any easier but my mother will keep me on my feet,” he said.
William is a fan of Jamaican and eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt who he believes is the greatest athlete of all-time.
“I was still a baby at the time Bolt won his first gold medals at the Olympics. He has gotten better in every competition he takes part in, I hope to follow in his footsteps,” he said.
His mother said she was impressed with her son’s performance and hopes he can keep it up.
“He is a great sportsman full of life and discipline. Besides being a sportsman he has developed a love for music and started playing drums. He has grown from a quiet boy to a confident teen passionate about sport. I have no doubt that he will be successful in the future,” she said.
One of the coaches at Tygerberg, Isabel le Roux, said despite coming last the school is happy with the athletes’ performances, especially the juniors.
“We are building towards the future. We are particularly proud of William because he was among the under-14s that dominated the competition. We see a bright future for him in athletics if he keeps this up,” she said.