After winning the Javelin title in this year’s first Varsity Athletics meeting in Potchefstroom, NWU-Pukke’s Gizelle Bernard has now set herself the target of breaking her personal best at the Athletics South Africa Senior Track and Field Championships in Stellenbosch.
Bernard said she was just happy to be on the track at the Potch meeting after recovering from an injury she picked up last year and feels her performances were satisfactory.
“It was great to be back on the track because I was injured. I’m not where I supposed to be yet, but I am getting there,” Bernard told varsitysportssa.com.
“A win I guess is always good. I was happy with the series of throws because I was struggling in the previous meets before the event, but I am getting better and it is just part of the journey.”
Bernard feels that a good showing at the Senior Championships on April 17-18 will not only help her get back to her best, but also help her qualify for some of the bigger events coming up later this year.
“I would like to qualify for the World Student Champs, but not just that. I would like to throw a personal best again to just get myself back up there.
“It has been hard work coming back from an injury but we will see how it goes,” said Bernard.
The fifth year Mechanical Engineering student feels that the difference in altitude between Potchefstroom and Stellenbosch will not be much of a factor when it comes to achieving a specific distance.
However, with the event taking place down in the Cape, she does feel that the presence of a strong wind can play a role on the day.
“Altitude is not a major factor. However, at the coast there is more wind and stuff, but then it depends from which side of the track you are throwing.
“It depends if it is a headwind or a tailwind so in that case wind can be a bummer if it’s crazy. Other than that it does not have as much of an affect as it does on the runners,” she added.
Bernard said the experience of winning the Javelin title in her home ground in Potch three weeks ago was something that she will remember for a long time to come and feels that Varsity Athletics has revived the sport in the country.
“It was special because I am a very sentimental person. Anything close to home is special and it is special to compete in front of your friends. They made like banners and stuff, which was nice.
“I think Varsity Athletics it is one of the greatest things they could have done for athletics in South Africa. Especially the public that show up, it makes it a nice meet to watch. It is like a revival for Athletics in South Africa,” said Bernard.
