A Dash of Concentration

Cindy Stewart is an athlete at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, and when she’s not about her main goal on the sprint track in training or in competition, she’s making her way through her second year of a B.Com (Marketing Management) degree.

“I live in Port Elizabeth,” says the friendly 21-year-old, “(But) I’m not actually from here. I was born in Strand, in Cape Town.” Laughing off a question about her marital status, Stewart prefers to talk about her devotion to on-track activities.

“Yes, I’m basically a natural sprinter (laughs) since I was 5, but that was my first race, when I was 5 years old, and I ran with a group older than me, because I was in pre-school, and my mom was a teacher, and I went to her school.”

Cindy doesn’t care to talk too much about other disciplines, like longer distance running or long jump: She’s made her target clear, and she’s focussed on pursuing excellence in the 100m sprint, also achieving spectacular results in the local 200m dash.

“I started (training) with (coach Matthew Quinn) last year, when I moved down to PE, and since then everything’s been going well. He’s inspired me to be a really good sprinter, yeah, I can say he’s really motivational.”

In their press release promoting the latest Yellow Pages Ultimate Athletics meet in Oudtshoorn on Saturday past, Athletics SA referred to this talented sprinter as the ‘unbeaten’ 100m specialist.

“Yeah, (my record in the tournament) is four out of four, Secunda, Potchefstroom, Port Elizabeth and Oudtshoorn,” says Cindy. Aiming for 11.71 seconds to qualify for the World Student Games in Bangkok later this year, she achieved exactly that in Oudtshoorn, outgunning nearest competitor Estie Wittstock in both that race and the 200m.

“Yes, (the Yellow Pages meets) were fun, they were fun. I really enjoyed it,” says Cindy. “Nice weather sometimes, and the competition was exciting. Yeah, (the new sponsorship has) been better than other times, so it’s a good thing. It’s been very good, cause they advertise it a lot, and I think it’s drawn many people to it.”

With a personal best is a 11.69 recorded last year in Joburg, Cindy seems set to achieve her initial goal, but remains off the pace to set a new South African record, currently held by Geraldine Pillay, whose 2005 national record of 11.07 will require some beating.

“Who is my biggest challenge?” laughs Cindy. “Geraldine! No, I haven’t raced her yet, she’s overseas, I think she’s in America, so.., but she will be returning soon (nervous laugh).”

“I’d (also) love to go to the Olympics one day, run faster times, and compete competitively overseas!” exclaims Cindy. And what does she do when times are tough? “I will call my mother (laughs)! Yeah, I just call home, my mom and my dad are big inspirations!”