On Saturday morning (5/4), Burger broke a third record at the meet at the Mangaung Athletics Stadium by winning her semi-final in the girls’ 200m. 

Burger crossed the finish line in a blistering time of 23.52 seconds, beating her closest competition by more than a second. The previous record stood at 23.57 seconds. Luanne du Plooy of Gauteng ran the second-fastest time in 24.82 seconds, while Oluchi Ndubueze, who came second in the 100m sprint final, finished as the third-fastest in the semi-finals with 25.11 seconds.

Rumé Burger. Photo: Morgan Piek

Last week in Cape Town, Burger, won the 200m gold in 23.69 seconds during the ASA Junior National Championships. On Thursday, Burger broke the 100m SA Schools record for girls U17 with a time of 11.50 seconds in the semi-finals. 

As she clinched the gold by winning the final on Friday, she again broke the record, shaving 0.07 seconds off her time to set the benchmark at 11.43 seconds. While Burger has technically run the fastest time in the world for girls under-18 with her 11.43 seconds, it will not be recognised as a world record. 

There are many variables that need to be considered – first and foremost, the stadium must be accredited by World Athletics by meeting various specifications, which it does not. That said, nothing can be taken away from the young athlete’s outstanding achievements in her hometown. 

Burger will be running in the 200m final Saturday at 13:35. 

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg