An athlete of the Fichardtpark High School in Bloemfontein is constantly striving for the next big thing.
Mianda Nel (19) enjoys competing in 10 km races and cross country championships, and specialises in 5 000 m and steeplechase events on the athletics track.
A typical steeplechase race stretches over a distance of 2 000 m or 3 000 m.
Mianda’s versatility enables her to excel in these endurance-demanding events.
During the Free State Secondary Schools Athletics Championship, held at the Free State Athletics Stadium in Bloemfontein on 26 February, she clocked 23:12.55 in the 5 000 m race and placed second.
She also raised the bar in the Tempe 10 km road race in Bloemfontein on Saturday, 19 March, by placing first in the junior women’s category in 46:50.
Her personal best time of 45.20 for this distance was attained in the 10 km race of the Kloppers Marathon on 19 February.
Since taking up athletics in 2013 at the tender age of ten, she has never looked back.
“The late Rufus Botha encouraged me to participate in athletics, but I like road running more,” said Mianda.
She debuted in road running in 2017, and was selected for the Free State cross country team that competed at the South African championship last year.
Growing in confidence with every win, Mianda has set herself the target of running the Two Oceans Marathon, as well as the Xiamen International Marathon in China and the Tuscany Camp Global Elite Race in Italy.
She said she has set herself a five-year plan to accomplish the milestone of competing in international marathons.
- According to Mianda, she draws inspiration from South African runner Gerda Steyn, who set a course record for the Comrades Marathon up run in 2019. By finishing in 5:58:53, she became the first woman to break the six-hour barrier. In the article “Athletes geared for championship” published in Express on 2 March, Mianda Nel was incorrectly referred to as Lane van Rooyen in the caption.
Since taking up athletics in 2013 at the tender age of ten, she has
never looked back.
