Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Born to be elite – and free to run like the wind
ASTHMA and anxiety disorder has not stopped a Milnerton High School speedster from doing what she does best.
Lawon Hill from Atlantis was among 36 athletes who were part of the Born 2 Be Elite (B2BE) training camp at the Green Point Athletics Stadium this week.
The programme was launched by five-time Olympic medallist Justin Gatlin and Sharrieffa Barksdale, the US Athletics team manager and 1984 Olympian and former US 400m hurdles record holder.
Lawon, 17, qualified for the training camp after performing well at the invitational try-out event, which saw more than 350 sprint athletes take part.
At the training camp, athletes were introduced to the B2BE programme, including the focus on quality technique, conditioning and the psychology required to reach their goals.
“It was a new environment and made me aware of the things I need to improve on. I was also taught many different techniques.
“Meeting a former Olympian (Sharrieffa Barksdale) was a oncein-a-lifetime experience as well as being coached by her. She is a very knowledgeable person and an amazing coach.
“Meeting Justin (Gatlin) was just as exceptional, he is a humble person, and you could say he was more excited to meet us than us meeting him,” said the Velocity Athletics Club athlete, whose goal for the 2019-2020 track and field season is to improve on last year’s performances.
“My goal is to qualify for the South African High School’s Championships at the ASA Youth and Junior Championships.
“The main goal would be to qualify for the final but it is one step at a time,” said Lawon, who has made the WP Schools team for the last three consecutive years and the Western Province Athletics (WPA) youth and junior team this year.
Diagnosed with asthma and anxiety disorder last year, Lawon has not let this dampen her spirits.
“Athletics has helped me become a stronger person mentally and physically. It has taught me dedication, exposed me to different circumstances and challenges. The passion I have for the sport has made me more determined to overcome this,” she said.
Barksdale said there was just so much talent at the B2BE training camp.
“It is now about showing them how to succeed. The training camp was to make athletes understand the process of development, to be consistent, disciplined and to embrace the challenge. We are here to support them going forward as part of the Born 2 Be Elite family.”
“We will communicate with them, give them training tips and drills as focus areas over the next two months before the next camp in January,” she said.