Tuks' female athletes are on the brink of making history. If one of them claims victory in the 400m at the upcoming 2025 ASA Senior Track & Field Championships in Potchefstroom, it will complete a rare and remarkable hat trick.

Achieving this feat won't come easily, but it’s well within reach.

Two of Tuks ' coaching powerhouses behind this rise in 400m dominance are Ilze Wicksell and Adri de Jongh. These former champions have transformed Tuks into a sprinting stronghold, honing the skills of their athletes with precision and purpose.

Currently, Marlie Viljoen stands as South Africa’s third-fastest woman over 400m, clocking a personal best of 51.42 seconds just last month. Jada van Staden, only 21, made a strong impression last year by finishing third in the 400m final at the National Championships with a time of 52.65 seconds.

Their momentum has carried through to this season. Two weeks ago at the Junior Champs in Cape Town, Colene Scheepers dominated the under-20 400m, while Van Staden secured the win in the under-23 category.

The coaching lineage speaks volumes. Wicksell—renowned as the first South African woman to break the 2-minute barrier in the 800m—trains Viljoen and Scheepers. De Jongh, a former three-time national 400m champion, is the guiding force behind Van Staden’s steady rise.
 
Under the headship of De Jongh, Van Staden is confident of running faster in the 400m. 

"I don't want to limit myself to running 52 seconds in the 400m. I aim to run 51 seconds at the National Championships because that is the world standard. It would be good for South African female athletics if more of us could run 51 seconds. Last year's final at the national championship showed that it is possible. It must be one of the fastest finals because five of us clocked times faster than 53 seconds."

Van Staden makes no secret about the fact that she loves to compete.

"It is during training that you make the immense sacrifices and put in the long hours. Racing is the easy part. It is the part where I go and show off the hard work I have put in. Still, racing comes with mental and physical challenges. I am a late bloomer when it comes to sport. I am still working towards my peak performance. Luckily, time is on my side as I am only 21."

For the record, Van Staden's best time in the 400 m hurdles is 58.59 seconds. This season, she specifically chose to focus only on the 400m, but from next year, she will compete in both. She believes the hurdle event is one in which she really could excel.