Oosthuizen's goal is to one day tell a classic story with fast times in the 800m

Stories—and not just any stories—classic tales by the master authors of the Victorian era and fast times on the athletics track excite Michaela Oosthuizen.

The past weekend, during the USSA Championships at Pilditch, she won the 800 metres. The Tuks student's performance in the heats and the final spoke of sheer guts. She dominated both races by running in front from the start. The challenge to the other athletes was catch me if you can. No one could. Oosthuizen won in 2:07.54. It is not the time she would have wanted to run, but then again, this season, viruses and not the stopwatch are what challenged her most.

Away from the track, the 25-year-old is a serious student. If everything goes according to plan, she will complete her doctorate in Victorian fiction before the end of the year. Her thesis concerns the writing of Charles Dickens, the Brontës and Victor Hugo in particular. She is also an assistant lecturer at Tuks.

"My passion is the academic environment. I thrive on being able to stimulate and foster my love for literature in the hearts and minds of students at a tertiary level."

Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights is considered one of the best books ever written. It is not easy for the layperson to read. It is known for its intense emotional impact, complex characters, and exploration of dark themes like love, hate, and revenge. This makes one wonder whether Oosthuizen still reads ordinary crime novels or other popular fiction novels. Her honest answer is that it is not by choice if she does.

"Reading books is like good coffee to me. Once you learn to appreciate the taste of good coffee, it's hard to drink canned coffee. I am a true fan of the old masters of writing."

The comparison she uses is apt. Good coffee is one of her other great passions.

Getting back to athletics. Last year was Oosthuizen's big breakthrough. She improved her best time in the 800 to 2:03.54. That's almost three seconds faster than her previous best. Her time of 54.94 seconds in the 400 meters was also nearly a second faster. This season, her best time in the 400 meters is 54.05 seconds.

"The plan was to run very close to sub two minutes in the 800 meters at some point during the season. Unfortunately, I got sick at critical times and lost precious training time."

Oosthuizen studied and ran in North Dakota in, the USA for two years.

"It was a calculated risk that I took. As an athlete, it didn't work out as I had hoped. Due to various niggles, I was never able to reach my best form. I believe I lost two of my best athletic years. On the positive side, the experience in the USA introduced me to the 'big leagues'. Since I'm back, I'm no longer afraid to run the 800.

"From a personal point of view, the time in the USA was incredible. I had amazing experiences that I wouldn't trade for anything else."

Those who appreciate poetry should read Oosthuizen's poem "Something Sad in the Music" on the Internet.

Connoisseurs describe it as follows: "'Something Sad in the Music' brings a candescent lyricism and a rhythmic melancholy to the page. The slant rhyme and in-line rhyme of this poem prove especially moving—an eloquent and rhythmic counterpoint to the literal piano music of the poem."