The goal of the Athletics Foundation Trust (AFT) is to make a difference in young people's lives, and they are succeeding. Statistics are proving.

Hardly a year has passed in which one or more of the Trust's sponsored learner-athletes at TuksSport High School are not making the media headlines. There have been world champions, Olympians and record-breakers. 

The 17-year-old, Viwe Jingqi, recently proved that 2022 will be no exception when she won the 100 metres in 11.47s during the Twizza Super School Series in Roodepoort. Her winning time is a new South African Junior U-18 Record. 

It is an amazing performance considering that in 38 years and nearly four months, no South African under-18 sprinter had clocked such a fast time. Jingqi broke the record set by Mari-Lise Furstenburg on 5 November 1983 at Pilditch. Furstenburg ran 11.56s. 

The TuksSport High School learner-athlete time ranks her as one of South Africa's five fastest female sprinters since 2017. 

Her training buddy, Bradley Nkoane, has been equally impressive, clocking 10.21s over 100 metres. If he can come close to being so fast again, there is a real chance that he would end up being one of South Africa's five fastest sprinters this season. 

Their coach, Paul Gorries, is aware of the challenges his two young proteges face. Fast time often equates to great expectations, but the stories don't always have happy endings. Far too often, young athletes get injured or just quit because they are pushed too hard. It means unfulfilled dreams.

Nkoane hardly raced last year due to a hamstring and bruised foot injuries. 

"Bradley was already injured before I got to coach him. It was a bitter pill to him when I told him I would not allow him to race last year as he needed to fully recover. He might now start to reap the rewards for being patient."

Gorries will be very selective about when and where Jingqi and Nkoane or any of his young athletes' race. He is also coaching Benjamin Richardson, who won silver in the 100 metres during last year's World Junior Championships in Nairobi. 

"The goal is to have them at their best during the World Junior Championships in Colombia in August. To do means they got consistent every time they race. We got it to work for Benjamin last year. From when he won the gold medal at the SA Junior Champs to winning silver at the World Junior Champs, the split between his fastest and slowest times in the 100 metres was only 0.13s."

Jingqi credits Gorries as the one who moulded her to become the runner she is. 

"My coach is the one who got me to believe in my abilities. In my first race this season, I clocked 11.50s. Immediately afterwards, I knew I could be faster. That is what motivated me to work harder during training. Still, when I broke the record, I could not believe it. It is an amazing feeling to know that I am a record holder."

She admits that she can be faster out of the starting blocks. At the moment, her top-end speed is her best quality as a sprinter. 

Caster Semenya is Jingqi's role model. 

"She faced such a lot of challenges, but she never gave up on her dreams. That is what I admire."

Athletics Foundation Trust - a major partner of TuksAtheltics Academy at TuksSport High School | Visit athleticsfoundationtrust.org, for more information about the Athletics Foundation Trust