{"id":20026,"date":"2013-05-28T20:58:56","date_gmt":"2013-05-28T18:58:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/andreas-runs-into-athletics-spotlight\/"},"modified":"2013-05-28T20:58:56","modified_gmt":"2013-05-28T18:58:56","slug":"andreas-runs-into-athletics-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/andreas-runs-into-athletics-spotlight\/","title":{"rendered":"Andreas runs into athletics spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t \"University<\/a><\/p>\n

University of Johannesburg student Jeromy Andreas has stepped into the sporting spotlight after becoming national elite 10km road champion last week. Photo: Henno Havenga<\/p>\n

Jeromy Andreas, a student at the University of Johannesburg<\/a>, has run out of obscurity into the spotlight after winning the national elite 10km road title last week.<\/p>\n

The track specialist said he surprised even himself when he beat seasoned roadrunners to the title in Durban last Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just went there to run for fun as part of the USSA (national student) team. It wasn\u2019t my intention to win at all,\u201d said the 21-year-old, who has already qualified for the world university championships in Russia in July.<\/p>\n

But when he saw the pace in the closing kilometre, the U23 national 1 500m champion said he knew he could take the win.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn track we run much faster and finish much stronger. So when I saw what these road guys were doing with a kilometre to go, I knew there was no way they would outsprint me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The second-year transport management student, who has a personal best of 3:48 over 1 500m, turned on the afterburners and sprinted the last 500 metres to claim his first senior national title in 29:03, after winning the junior section three years ago.<\/p>\n

Andreas said the victory had now thrust him into the spotlight. \u201cPeople are now asking, \u2018Who\u2019s Jeromy and where does he come from?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Among them is former 10 000m Olympic silver medallist Elana Meyer<\/a>, who is hosting a camp for young athletes who show potential for the Rio Olympics in 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy goal is to go to the 2016 Olympics and do the 5 000m or 10 000m event. Then I want to medal at the next one, possibly in the marathon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andreas, who will take part in the 1 500m and 5 000m races in Russia, said he was working up to the longer distances.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you go for the longer distances too soon, you can mess your whole career up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m focusing on track for now. But by the age of 25 or 26 I\u2019d preferably move onto the road and try to improve my times there.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said road running presented a fresh tactical challenge for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn track we just run fast and qualify. But on road you must wait and have patience and analyse your race very carefully.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although he has been likened to 10 000m record holder Hendrick Ramaala<\/a> and the late Beijing Marathon winner Ian Syster<\/a>, Andreas is unfazed by the comparison.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can do more, I\u2019m unique in God\u2019s eyes. We\u2019re all different, so I can work hard and reach for higher goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

And work hard he does, getting up to train at 5am every morning, then attending lectures before wrapping up the day with an evening training session.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gets hectic. I usually also race on Saturdays and then I have time for friends and family.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I want to get a masters or doctoral degree and then I want to focus my energy on becoming a world-class athlete. But right now my studies are my first priority.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Northcliff resident, who is one of the university\u2019s high performance athletes, says one of this season\u2019s highlights was winning the 3 000m (8:10.87) in the Varsity Athletics series in front of his home crowd at the UJ Stadium<\/a> last month.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat night was so special \u2013 everyone recognised me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andreas has come a long way from the untrained Eersterivier (in Cape Town) schoolboy who simply fell into the sport through an interhouse athletics meet.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe running bug bit me and I started to get more and more interested in the sport. I don\u2019t know how it\u2019s gone as far as it has!<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t just sit back now, I have to use this talent that I got from God. So for now I\u2019m just going to train, train, train and prepare for bigger things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Visit www.uj.ac.za<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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