Three young Roodepoort athletes set to represent Gauteng at SA Mile Champs
The trio spoke to the Roodepoort Northsider about how they felt when they received the exciting news.
Joshua said he was both surprised and happy to learn he had qualified, especially after a tough race during the qualifiers.
'The race didn't go as planned, and I wasn't sure I'd made it. But there's nothing better than wearing Gauteng colours and running for my province,' he said.
Keegan expressed pride in his selection:
'It's always a special feeling. I felt relieved because I'd worked so hard for it.'
Milan shared her joy, saying:
'When I wear my provincial colours, I feel proud and full of joy.'
The athletes vividly recalled their qualifying races. Keegan said he sprinted the last 200m and gave it everything. Milan added, 'I was super tired at the finish, but proud.' Joshua remembers the moment fondly: 'I just heard my family cheering as I crossed the line.'
In preparation for the championships, the runners have been training intensely. Joshua recently attended a training camp with their coach and said he's focusing on staying calm and not overthinking the race. Milan said she's been staying positive and training hard every day to be fully prepared. Keegan added, 'We've been putting in the work – training hard and staying focused.'
When asked what motivates them, all three said they draw inspiration from one another, their coach, and motivational author David Goggins. Keegan quoted him:
'If your mind believes you can do it, your body will follow.'
Their journey has not been without its hurdles. Joshua has battled injuries and growth plate issues, but says he's feeling better now. Keegan mentioned that staying consistent has been his biggest challenge. Milan admitted that her mindset can sometimes go negative, but the support from her coach and friends helps her stay on track.
As for their goals at the championships, Joshua hopes to achieve a personal best. Keegan wants to enjoy the experience and give it his all, while Milan, not expecting a podium finish, said he just wants to do his best and leave it all on the road.
Their advice for other young athletes?
'Keep training, push through the hard times, stay humble, and keep learning from your mistakes,' said Joshua.
'Stay humble and keep working. Your time will come,' Keegan added.
After the championships, Joshua and Keegan will shift focus to the cross-country champs in September, while Milan plans to train for the 800m and 1 500m track season.
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The Citizen
6 days ago
- The Citizen
Three young Roodepoort athletes set to represent Gauteng at SA Mile Champs
Three talented young runners from Roodepoort – Joshua Madden, Keegan Coetzee and Milan Botha – have been selected to represent Central Gauteng at the SA Mile Road Championships taking place this Saturday, July 26. The trio spoke to the Roodepoort Northsider about how they felt when they received the exciting news. Joshua said he was both surprised and happy to learn he had qualified, especially after a tough race during the qualifiers. 'The race didn't go as planned, and I wasn't sure I'd made it. But there's nothing better than wearing Gauteng colours and running for my province,' he said. Keegan expressed pride in his selection: 'It's always a special feeling. I felt relieved because I'd worked so hard for it.' Milan shared her joy, saying: 'When I wear my provincial colours, I feel proud and full of joy.' The athletes vividly recalled their qualifying races. Keegan said he sprinted the last 200m and gave it everything. Milan added, 'I was super tired at the finish, but proud.' Joshua remembers the moment fondly: 'I just heard my family cheering as I crossed the line.' In preparation for the championships, the runners have been training intensely. Joshua recently attended a training camp with their coach and said he's focusing on staying calm and not overthinking the race. Milan said she's been staying positive and training hard every day to be fully prepared. Keegan added, 'We've been putting in the work – training hard and staying focused.' When asked what motivates them, all three said they draw inspiration from one another, their coach, and motivational author David Goggins. Keegan quoted him: 'If your mind believes you can do it, your body will follow.' Their journey has not been without its hurdles. Joshua has battled injuries and growth plate issues, but says he's feeling better now. Keegan mentioned that staying consistent has been his biggest challenge. Milan admitted that her mindset can sometimes go negative, but the support from her coach and friends helps her stay on track. As for their goals at the championships, Joshua hopes to achieve a personal best. Keegan wants to enjoy the experience and give it his all, while Milan, not expecting a podium finish, said he just wants to do his best and leave it all on the road. Their advice for other young athletes? 'Keep training, push through the hard times, stay humble, and keep learning from your mistakes,' said Joshua. 'Stay humble and keep working. Your time will come,' Keegan added. After the championships, Joshua and Keegan will shift focus to the cross-country champs in September, while Milan plans to train for the 800m and 1 500m track season.
The Citizen
10-07-2025
- The Citizen
Craven Week: WP head to main game as Valke soar and Leopards let lead slip
It was the penultimate match day of this year's FNB U18 Craven Week, and the question on everyone's lips at Middelburg Hoërskool was: Would Western Province make it to the unofficial final again? That question was finally answered when the final whistle of the day blew, but before we get to that, here's how day four of this elite provincial schoolboy rugby tournament unfolded. Boland vs Valke Both sides were looking for their first win of the tournament, with Boland having lost to WP on day two and the Valke having played to an exciting draw against Leopards. Valke scrumhalf Joshua van Rensburg (Hoërskool Alberton) kicked off the action, and it was his side that scored the first try of the day when winger Dihan Crause (Hoërskool Transvalia) crossed the tryline early on. Unfortunately for the Valke, Joshua failed to convert. 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Boland bounced back through fullback West-Lee Uithaler (Langeberg Sekondêre Skool), but the extras were not added. With eight minutes left to play, replacement Valke prop Deveraux Weideman (also from EG Jansen) barged over the line, and Juan converted to take the score to 35-19. Moments later, he was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle, with just over five minutes remaining. The clock kept ticking, and Boland attempted to finish on a high. They knocked the ball on in an attempt to score a try, and had another go right at the end, but again Valke's defence proved too strong. The final score: 35-19 in favour of Valke. Griquas vs Leopards It took less than 120 seconds in the second match of the day for the opening try, as the Leopards showed they were on the hunt for their first win of the tournament. Hooker Juan van Rhyn of Hoërskool Lichtenburg was at the back of a rolling maul that cruised over the tryline. 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The big cats started the second half like the first, scoring a try early on. Flanker Franco Dumond (Wesvalia) scored, and Eduard converted to take the score to 31-19. Few would have guessed that this would be the Leopards' final try of the match. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Middelburg Observer (@mobserver) Griquas flyhalf Aidan converted his own try, and the Leopards were reduced to 14 players when Jordan Rathebe (Hoërskool Vryburg High School) was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle. Griquas took full advantage of the extra man, with replacement Jayden de Klerk (Diamantveld) crossing the line to draw them level. Aidan missed the conversion, however, and the score remained tied at 31-all. Griquas were awarded a penalty at scrum time, and Aidan slotted it in to give them the lead for the first time in the match. But with nine minutes remaining, Leopards flyhalf Eduard responded with a penalty of his own to level the scores once again. 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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Middelburg Observer (@mobserver) It was then time for one of the most talked-about South African schoolboys – Markus Muller of Paarl Gimnasium – to show why he is held in high regard. His powerful leg drive resulted in a try for the try-scoring machine. Ethan converted from the touchline, and WP took the lead (14-10). Another penalty by Liyema put his side within one point. Unforced errors by both flyhalves – first by Ethan from the restart kick, and then the more costly mistake by his counterpart, Liyema. The latter's knock forward on his tryline resulted in an attacking scrum for WP that led to a penalty, and ultimately a try by prop Matthew van der Merwe of Rondebosch Boys' High School. Ethan added the extras and took the score to 21-13. As the hooter sounded, WP were awarded a penalty and opted to go for the poles. Ethan added three more points, and Province led 24-13 at the break. 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Will they win the unofficial final for the sixth consecutive time? We find out on Saturday. Photos and video: Action on and off the field at the FNB U18 Craven Week
TimesLIVE
04-07-2025
- TimesLIVE
The race problem behind the racy ‘F1' movie
Everybody loves a good sports movie, especially as streamers feed the insatiable hunger binge watchers have for documentaries. With the likes of David Beckham and Usain Bolt pulling back the veils from their misunderstood lives, the cinema of fast-paced flicks is slowly taking over. Coming into the fold is Joseph Kosinski's F1, which follows his winning trajectory of fast-paced dramas. Starring Brad Pitt, who plays the fictional Sonny Hayes, F1 follows a former American Formula One driver on the verge of a career comeback late in life. After a horrific crash earlier in his career, Sonny's life spiralled out of the limelight and into destructive behaviours and career changes. His former teammate Ruben Cervantes (played by Javier Bardem) pulls him from the chaotic world of NASCAR and back into Formula One racing in the hope of reviving fictional motor racing company Apex. Each cast member shines in what is a definitive movie that has pulled audiences back to the cinema, hitting $146m in its first week. While the movie successfully scores, directs and costumes Pitt into what could easily be an Oscar favourite, it runs into a snag with its supporting cast. Its most glaring issues can be seen with Apex GP's rising talent, Joshua Pearce, played by Snowfall star Damson Idris. With barely enough wins to save the company from a troubled reputation, the pressure is on Joshua to make the right moves on the track to secure a much-needed win. However, with Sonny looking to make a comeback, the story creates a conflict between the two, which makes for great tension. While Idris shines alongside Pitt, it does seem he may be miscast in this role — not due to a lack of talent, but because of issues left bare in the writing room. While Sonny is framed as a recluse loose cannon brimming at the helmet with talent, Joshua is framed as a template for a fame-obsessed rookie. However, with Idris being black and quite talented at showcasing the pain in Joshua's training, the storyline falls flat as a judgmental gaze at the pressures of success. The initial scenes on meeting Joshua showcase a number of these elements. He exposits about a former teammate who has been benched (in favour of Sonny) and racially discriminated against, with Apex GP's marketing team forcing Joshua to suck it up and fake it for the press. This is the same expectation thrust on Joshua when he meets Sonny, who makes an aloof entrance and does not co-operate with the Apex GP team. So much so that it costs him and Joshua multiple wins. Joshua confronts Sonny's insubordination but is met with little support from senior members of Apex GP, leading to a blow-up between him and Sonny, where cameras catch them in a heated exchange. Joshua reverts to his signature pose and a wide smile, playing nice for the camera and an impenitent Sonny who shames him for keeping a good face in light of the conflict. These moments go on to define Joshua's experiences, where there's very little understanding of the racial context to what he is experiencing. Joshua's experiences in F1 echo studies into black fatigue and code switching, which are efforts made by black people in workplaces where they have to work twice as hard as white counterparts to fit in to the professional environment. Joshua is the only other person of colour in the Apex GP team and with a lot of chatter from the corporate members around him looking to have him axed, it becomes increasingly difficult to trust his standing in his workplace. As a solution, Joshua and his manager cut outside deals through club appearances, brand-sponsored social media posts and an intense workout regimen that constantly gets contrasted with the detached world Sonny lives in. Rather than alleviate this pressure, we see Joshua struggle to secure his living due to not feeling as secure as Sonny or the benched colleague. This is also echoed in the many mistakes Sonny makes while Joshua is lambasted for one slip that the story continues to bring up until he accounts for it. As part of the flubbed attempt at making Joshua seem like an arrogant, fame-hungry member of the team, the movie constantly displays a dislike for technology. Whether it's Joshua's use of social media or the hi-tech training equipment he painstakingly uses to keep up with the high standards placed on him, the movie makes him the poster boy for a future that conflicts with a past it can't seem to fully define. In its poor attempt at stereotyping Joshua's character, it creates a supporting cast filled with uninteresting roleplayers who fall into tired tropes we've seen too many times before. It is especially glaring with Kerry Condon (Banshees of Inisherin), who is underutilised as a trope often mocked by TikTokers and today's leading ladies. A scientist whose place in the team is questioned based on gender and becomes defined by becoming the lead character's love interest. Rather than celebrating differences and allowing its main character to shine as an impulsive leader, F1 takes a wrong turn from a thrilling redemption story that's oversteered into a movie that longs for but can't quite give meaning to nostalgia.
