Pietman du Preez: LearningTo Train
Pietman du Preez has been running since Grade R. and by Grade 1, he was already competing in the 60m and 80m, as well as cross country even though CC only started from Under 9. This year, his results have started to show just how much potential he has.
Pietman won all of his school cross-country league races in 2026 before becoming the District East Cross-Country Champion. He also won the district title in sprinting, while producing personal bests in both the 60m and 80m at the Gauteng Championships.
His current personal bests include 8.82 seconds for 60m, 11.51 seconds for 80m and 1:58 for 600m. His 2km cross-country best is 7:45.
But perhaps his most memorable performance this year wasn’t a victory.
Recently, Pietman fell during the first 50m of a 600m race after being in first position. He had to get back up, make a decision about whether to continue, and then fight his way through the field despite a slight injury.
He finished in the top 10 out of 25 athletes.
For his father, those are the moments that matter.
Winning is rewarding, but learning how to respond when things don’t go according to plan is part of becoming an athlete.
Growing through training
Pietman joined FFA because his parents wanted him to receive more specialised sprint coaching and have the opportunity to train outside the traditional school athletics season.
He initially trained at FFA Fourways before moving across to FFA Sunninghill when the programme launched in early 2026.
Since then, he has become a familiar and enthusiastic member of the group.
He trains twice a week and is not afraid to ask questions. He watches the older athletes, learns from them and also enjoys helping younger athletes with drills, technique and warm-ups.
For a young athlete involved in a wide range of sports which includes tennis, swimming, rugby, cycling, cricket and school cross country, the structured athletics work also contributes to coordination, rhythm and running form.
Pietman knows that training is helping him improve at something he already enjoys and is good at. That sense of progress keeps him motivated.
His confidence has also developed through interacting with coaches and athletes of different ages, alongside other activities such as choir.
Looking ahead
Pietman’s next goal is to make a provincial team and ultimately compete at nationals.
His father describes a young athlete who understands that goals require hard work, focus and patience, while also recognising that not everything is within our control.
For now, Pietman will continue doing what he enjoys: showing up, asking questions, learning from others and working to become a little better.
Pietman trains twice a week at Sunninghill, arriving every Tuesday and Thursday for approximately 90 minutes of structured training.
That interaction is an important part of what we want to build at FFA Sunninghill: a training environment where young athletes learn from one another, develop confidence and understand that improvement is a process.
In the accompanying video, Pietman talks about why he loves athletics, what the sport has done for his confidence, his favourite training partner and what he would say to a teammate who is nervous about coming to training for the first time.
His answer to that last question perhaps captures the spirit of the programme best.
You don’t have to arrive at training already knowing everything.
You simply have to be willing to start, learn and keep improving.
Watch Pietman’s story in the video below.
If your child is interested in athletics and you are looking for a structured environment where they can develop their skills, confidence and love for the sport, FFA Sunninghill welcomes young athletes who are ready to learn and improve.