Despite winning both the 200m and 400m in the year’s first Varsity Athletics meeting in Potchefstroom, Maties’ Justine Palframan feels that she can still improve on her times ahead of the next event in Stellenbosch.
“I wasn’t really happy with either of my times so it was just a stepping stone and I realised what I have to fix. For the 200m I finished strong after doing the 400m. It was tough but it was a good training session,” Palframan told varsitysportssa.com.
What made her feat even more surprising was that that the 400m and 200m events were just over half an hour apart, leaving her with not much time to recover between the two.
“There was only 35 minutes between the two events so it was hard. It must have been my fitness that got me through so I must have been doing something right,” said Palframan.
The Maties’ sprinter has also formed a nice little rivalry with NWU-Pukke’s Melissa Hewitt, which is something she looks forward to come competition time.
“I think it is nice. We have each other to push each other. It makes sense because we can work off each other to achieve the times we need.
“She has a really good start so if do not start quickly enough then it’s difficult for me,” she added.
Palframan feels that 200m and 400m events complement each other well when it comes to training as both events’ strengths can assist the other’s weaknesses.
“For the 200m I have to try and bring in more speed and for the 400m it is more on endurance. What is so nice about the 200m and 400m is that they work together.
“The 200m speed helps me with the 400m and then the 400m endurance helps me finish the 200m strong.”
With Varsity Athletics in full swing, Palframan still has other goals for the rest of the year and has already cast her eye on some of the season’s biggest meetings.
“We are quite busy at the moment because we start with the SA Champs for Under-23s the weekend of Easter and then after that it is seniors then students.
“I am then hoping to make the team to go to the World Students Champs and World Champs later this year.”
Palframan still has to confirm the events she will be taking part in Stellenbosch, however, she will be ready to bring her A-game.
“It still depends on what I decide we do, but I will enjoy it and try my best in whatever event I will do,” she said.
