Year 9 Pakuranga College student Jordan Viljoen has dominated in her first season of athletics, racking up 26 medals.
The 13-year-old has been at the east Auckland school for only one term and has already made a name for herself, being crowned the junior girls champion athlete at the college’s athletics day.
Jordan says after constantly doing well at previous athletics days, she decided to dedicate more time to training and competing for the Pakuranga Athletic Club to learn proper techniques and improve.
And that she has, winning 26 medals in her introductory season.
Jordan has competed and prevailed in many high-profile competitions this season, including the U15 Interprovincial Challenge, College Sport Auckland CEW Zone Athletics and East, West and Central Zones.
With her impressive results at the U15 Interprovincial Challenge, Jordan was awarded the most improved female athlete, bronze for most points scored and the 5-star award.
Her most recent medals, however, came at the College Sport Auckland Athletics Championships, which saw her competing against college athletes city-wide.
She topped the junior girls’ competition in long jump and high jump, with a personal best of 1.50 metres.
Jordan says her favourite track and field event is high jump, which also happens to be her strongest.
“So far, I’m really loving taking athletics more seriously and hopefully one day I’ll be able to push for higher honours,” she says.
Pakuranga Athletic Club president Mike Trathen says it has been great to watch Jordan’s development this season.
“Her progress is a great example of what can be achieved through effort, motivation and taking advantage of all opportunities the club has offered, both with coaching and competition,” he says.
