Former Parkhurst Primary School sprinter Lamicah Adamson, 12, now representing Curro Primary Durbanville and the Cape metropole’s northern suburbs school district, was among the top performers at last week’s Western Province primary schools’ athletics championships, at Dal Josafat Stadium in Paarl.
The lanky teen stood head and shoulders above her rivals, breaking records in the girls’ under-12 150m and 100m sprints as well as in the long jump event. She also helped her team win gold in the girls’ under-12 4x100m relay.
The current national 80m dash and 100m champion, Lamicah caught the eye of track and field fans across the country in a viral video captured at last year’s primary schools’ national championships in Pietermaritzburg where she won under-11 titles.
While crossing the finish line first may seem easy for someone with her natural-born speed, winning is not all it’s cracked up to be, says Lamicah, who remembers all too well finishing sixth in her first appearance at the nationals, in Potchefstroom in 2022, in the 100m sprints.
“I was very sad and told myself I will train harder everyday,” said Lamicah, the youngest of three children.
Happy to express herself on the track and occasionally on TikTok, like most youngsters tend to do, the young speedster said she can hardly wait for the race to be over whenever she lines up at the start.
“I just want the race to be over and hope to win,” she says.
Happy to have settled in at Curro and represent the north, Lamicah says she misses her old school, friends and teachers.
A member of coach Paul Jacobus’ Elite Athletes Sprints and Hurdles Academy, Lamicah and other qualifying athletes are now gearing up for this weekend’s Western Cape championships, in Paarl, where they will compete for a spot at the upcoming national championships due to be held at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Limpopo towards the end of the month.
Jacobs established his Academy in Mitchell’s Plain in 2012 and has worked with athletes from various schools, including Lamicah, whom he first met while working as a physical education teacher at Parkhurst Primary.
Like many former athletes, especially those from less-privileged areas, Jacobs competed without the benefit of specialised training during his days as a sprinter, something he set out to change when he decided to become a coach.
“I am a firm believer in youth development. I understand the challenges that these kids are facing in this generation,” he said, adding that coaching girls comes with its own set of challenges, something many coaches across the country grapple with.
“I am fortunate to have one of the greatest mentors in my life, coach Hennie Kriel who guides me step-by-step on how to manage female athletes and how to develop them correctly,” said Jacobs, referring to the celebrated coach considered one of South Africa’s finest.
He said it’s important to have systems in place to ensure longevity for Lamicah and other young athletes.
“A proper support structure will keep this young champ in the sport for a long time,” he said.
“Parents and coaches must have an open mindset, it’s not just training, it’s things behind the scenes that counts the most.”
“As a young athlete it’s important to have fun on the track. Don’t be hard on yourself, always believe in yourself and always try to better yourself on and off the training grounds,” he said.
Thankfully, this star athlete has all the support she needs at home, as her parents Vanessa and Ricardo have always been her number one supporters and present at all competitions.
“We are very proud as a family and she has our full support. I drive her to and from school everyday,” said her father, who himself once represented Western Province as a junior.
“The most important thing is that parents support their children and motivate them. It definitely takes hard work and discipline to achieve success,” he said.
Parkhurst Primary School principal Ivan Coraizin, came to know her quite well during her time at Parkhurst – from Grade R to Grade 5.
“On the academic front, she is dedicated, focused and goal-orientated,” he said, quick to heap praise on the promising athlete.
“Lamicah is an excellent athlete. She is highly competitive and displays great skill and sportsmanship. She represented the school in athletics in inter-school competitions from Grade 1 and always performed admirably. She works hard to reach her full potential and, over the years, her prowess as an athlete has grown in leaps and bounds.”
As head of a school with a reputation for academic and sporting excellence, Coraizin knows all too well the importance of having a proper development plan and support systems that’s in the best interest of the child.
“Once athletes with exceptional potential are identified, it must be noted. Parents need to be consulted and a way forward to harness the potential must be plotted,” he said.
“When I started at Parkhurst, Bronwyn Bock was one of our leading athletes, becoming a South African champion in the sprints and long jump. She went on to excel in netball as well, capping her prowess by becoming the captain of the South African senior netball team, the Proteas.
“We always work closely with parents and would call in expertise when required. Then we encourage athletes to work and practice hard,” he said.
National athlete Tamzin Thomas’s story almost mirrors young Lamicah’s, as she’s also a former school and senior national champion who cut her teeth on the track while growing up in Mitchell’s Plain.
Thomas, 26, from Eastridge, and currently based in North West Province in Potchefstroom, attended Imperial Primary School in Beacon Valley and the Western Cape Sports School in Kuils River followed by the University of the Western Cape.
“I always believe we have so much talent in Mitchell’s Plain and we make sure we inspire the youth to use their God given talent,” she said.
“As sprinters our goal is to run as fast as possible. We need to train each and every day to build strength to help us become quicker. We want to be explosive out the starting blacks and have strong powerful arms and fast leg speed,” she said.
“Keep pushing, God has given you a talent and by using your talent it allows you to travel the world and bring so many new opportunities.,” said Thomas, offering a word of encouragement to Lamicah and other promising athletes.
