In only her first year as a competitive athlete, Auria van Wyk, 10, a Grade 4 pupil at Montana Primary School, impressed at this year’s primary schools athletics championships, winning gold in the girls’ under-10 high jump event at the Western Cape and national championships in Paarl and Limpopo respectively, earlier this year.

Star performer Auria van Wyk,10, won gold in the girls’ under-10 high jump event at the Western Cape and national championships. Picture: Fuad Esack

Auria’s exploits caught the eye of many, including Cedar Primary School teacher Shaun Felix, chairman of the Bonteheuwel Primary Schools Sport Sub-Zone or Bonteheuwel cluster.

Felix first spotted the youngster at the Bonteheuwel inter-schools competition in February, followed by the Metro Central District championship, the Western Province and the Western Cape championships.

Stephen Taylor, a teacher at Downeville Primary School in Manenberg and a member of the Western Cape Primary Schools athletics management team who accompanied the squad to the national championships, share a few words of advice with Auria van Wyk, at Vygieskraal, recently. Picture: Fuad Esack

“For someone to do high jump for the first time and be best in your age group in South Africa, is a great achievement,” said Felix, who is also the Metro Central District convenor for primary schools athletics and served as manager of the Western Cape Primary Schools boys’ squad.

He also accompanied the Western Cape team to the nationals championships, where once again, the promising high jumper stood head and shoulders above her rivals on the podium, winning gold in record-breaking fashion. “It takes a lot of discipline, dedication and determination to do that, even at such a young age,” he said.

Auria van Wyk looking relaxed at Vygieskraal recently. In the background is her father and number one supporter, Wayne, hauling in the landing mat. Picture: Fuad Esack

Quick to pay tribute to the coaches at UWC Athletics who assisted Auria with some of the finer technical aspects of high jump, is her mother Bronwyn, who believes her daughter has a bright future in the sport and could potentially reach even greater heights if she has all the equipment and support she needs.

She also expressed thanks to Jody Vigeland from the Athlone area schools Mass participation; Opportunity; Development and growth (MOD) programme and Montevideo Primary who allowed her use of the schools facilities two weeks prior to the national championships in Limpopo.

Auria van Wyk, centre, pictured here with her mother Bronwyn, primary school sports administrators Stephen Taylor and Sean Felix; and her father, Wayne. Picture: Fuad Esack

“Coach Jody showed Auria and other girls some moves, that is what made me ask for his help. We also had help from the principal at Montevideo Primary, which is not her school but they offered to assist,” she said.

“She could be the best at what she loves to do. Already she has broken multiple records, setting a new Western Cape record in the girls’ under-10 high jump category, with an impressive height of 1.28m. She then continued to go through to the national championships where she came first, breaking her own record of 1.28m and raising the bar even further to set a new record for the Western Cape at 1.29m,” she said.

Auria clears the bar under the watchful eye of Stephen Taylor and Sean Felix, who were part of the management team that accompanied the youngster and the rest of the Western Cape squad to the national primary schools athletics championships, in Limpopo, earlier this year. Picture: Fuad Esack

The best is yet to come, said Felix, who agrees with Van Wyk that the right support structure can go a long way to help Auria realise her potential. “She just needs to follow the right instructions, stay focused, self-motivated, dedicated and disciplined. If she does all of the above, she will definitely see that hard work pays off and that we’re not just preaching.

“I wish her all the best and a bright future that lies ahead,” he said.

While all this talk of discipline and dedication may seem like hard work for a 10-year-old, Auria takes it all in her stride with a shy smile and a ready-to-go attitude. When she’s not out breaking records, Auria, like any youngster loves nothing more than to hang out with friends, but has to stick to a training programme that involved dietary restrictions.

“High jump is easy, she said, “but the eating plan and exercises are hard,” she said.

If you’d like to assist Auria, call 079 042 1809.

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High jumper, 10, raises provincial and national bar