Matthews Leeto and Irvette Van Zyl win big at Athletics Club awards

Recognized for their stellar performances throughout 2023, Leeto and Van Zyl were honoured as the male and female athletes of the year respectively.

During her first year, Van Zyl secured victory in the 42km Soweto Marathon in November, proudly donning the colours of her recently joined club.

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Notable, she clinched the People’s Race for the fourth consecutive time, earning a substantial prize money of R250,000.

Commencing the year on a high note, she kicked off her winning streak by claiming the Dischem half-marathon title just last week.

“I owe my success to the unwavering support of my club. Despite being sidelined for the first six months due to an ankle injury, they stood by me, providing a monthly stipend and facilitating my rehabilitation. My gratitude goes out to my new club, and I am truly honoured to receive recognition in my debut year with them. I am committed to repaying the faith showed in me last year by giving my all to secure victories in the significant races,” expressed Van Zyl in an interview with SABC Sport.

Leeto who transitioned to marathon events where he ran in the Cape Town marathon last year, said being recognized motivated him to set the bar high this year.

Leeto expressed, “I aspire to qualify for the Olympic Games in the 42.2km marathon, but my initial focus is on dedicated training to gauge my progress. Additionally, I have set my sights on securing the SA half-marathon title and triumphing in a few 10km races. As a determined athlete, I am driven to be a consistent winner and strive to accomplish significant milestones in the sport. This accolade will serve as a motivation, propelling me to attain even greater success in the future,” he remarked.