Other News
Bloem blitz Burger ready to take on SA’s best at Senior Nationals─── MORGAN PIEK 07:52 Thu, 24 Apr 2025
The teenage sprinting sensation from Bloemfontein, Rumé Burger, is gearing up for the biggest challenge of her promising career thus far, as she lines up in Potchefstroom on Thursday for the 2025 Senior National Championships.
The flagship event of Athletics South Africa will be hosted at the renowned McArthur Athletics Stadium.
The 17-year-old will be competing in the Senior Nationals for the first time, and there’s no doubt she’ll be pushed to her limits. But for Rumé, it’s about more than just taking part.
Rumé Burger after breaking the Schools’ National 200m record. Photo: Morgan Piek
Earlier in April, Burger won gold in the 200m at the Junior National Championships in Cape Town, and also claimed silver in the 100m. Just a week later, at the National High Schools Championships in Bloemfontein, she smashed four national school records on her way to winning both the 100m and 200m titles. She clocked 11.43 seconds in the girls U17 100m final for gold, and 23.35 seconds in the 200m final for gold.
She’ll be competing in both events again this week, but the Senior Nationals are a different beast entirely – she’ll be up against the country’s best, many of whom are older, stronger, and more experienced.
That said, as this is an official Athletics South Africa event, it wouldn’t be a surprise if a national, or even an age-group world record, were to tumble – regardless of whether she takes the win.
Her father, Philip Burger – a former Toyota Cheetahs winger and Springbok Sevens star – told OFM Sport they’re not entirely sure what to expect. While the experience will be invaluable for her development, they’ve come to Potch to compete – and to win.
“The 100m is on Friday – that’s the heats, semi-finals and final,” said Burger.
“Then the 200m is run across Friday and Saturday. We’ve trained really hard since the National Schools Champs, and now we’re here to compete.
“We don’t really know what to expect, but it’s her first Senior SA’s – and look, we’re here to win. That’s it.”
Gabriella Marais and Tannie Ans Botha after winning the 100m bronze last year in Pietermaritzburg. Photo supplied
Burger will line up in the first heat on Thursday morning, which will get underway at 9:10am. Another Free State sprinter in the same heat is Basetsana Sebogodi.
In Heat 5, another exciting Bloemfontein talent, Gabriella Marais, will also be in action. During her debut at the Senior Nationals last year at the Msunduzi Athletics Stadium in Pietermaritzburg, the former hockey player clinched bronze in the 100m final with a time of 11.67 seconds. She is coached by the legendary Tannie Ans Botha.
