Alexander Sinton High Schools’ Dayna Small, 17, got her track and field season off to the perfect start, finishing the girls’ under-17 200m sprints in first place as well claiming gold with her relay team, at the Western Province High Schools’ Table Bay Zone Section B athletics meet, at the Green Point track, last week.
She also took part in the girls’ under-17 long jump event.
However, what made her day was that her school was crowned Table Bay Zone Section B champions.
Of course, they were not the only school that took part in the event as Belgravia, Spes Bona, Rhodes, Harold Cressy, St Cyprian’s, Silikamva, Sinenjongo and Milnerton high schools completed the line-up.
Dayna, from Belgravia, will look to emulate her performances, at this weekend’s Table Bay Zone Championships, at Vygieskraal Stadium.
“I am proud of my performances after the disappointing season last year. I hope to make the most of it at the Table Bay Zone champs as I would like to run at the Western Province championships,” she said.
Last year, the Grade 10 pupil started the season with a bang when she finished the girls’ under-17 long jump in first and second place. She went on to finished the long jump and 100m sprints in second and third place, respectively, at the Table Bay Zone Champs. However, her performances were not enough to see her qualify for the Western Province championships, at Vygieskraal Stadium.
But the youngster is no stranger to national competitions as she took part in the South African Primary Schools’ championships, in East London, in 2010.
“It was a great feeling to run up against the best in the country. I can’t get ahead of myself but I would like to go all the way to nationals,” she said.
The former Sunnyside Primary School pupil said she will never forget the day she fell over the hurdle when she was in Grade 7.
“I was doing the 100m hurdles and fell over the third hurdle. I kept on going and ended up winning the race,” she said.
It comes as no surprise that the youngster is inspired by her mother Debbie who was a WP athlete in her days.
“My mother did well in her younger days and is now coaching athletics at my former primary school. She has always motivated me and kept me on my feet,” she said.
Her mother said she hopes her daughter can continue her success on track and in her field events.
“Dayna has not realised her full potential and hopefully she will in the next few years.
“Like any parents, we want the best for our children but they must want the best for themselves and use the gifts given to them,” she said.
Small said at home Dayna is like any other teen who likes to be on social media and having fun.
“She is independent, outgoing and enjoys spending time with family and friends,” she said.