Maxime ’ s front-running tactics and flowing locks are becoming a regular , distinctive sight |
Hendrick Ramaala and some of his star athletes from the Zoo Lake Group |
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Images : Anthony Grote & courtesy Hendrick Ramaala |
possible in the South Africa of today . However , true to his dogged singlemindedness and mental strength , Maxime dug in his heels and went about his business . “ I believe it is possible . South African running can and must be great again . It simply requires a change in mindset ,” he says .
Overcoming Obstacles
Of course , no matter how determined he was , there was little Maxime could do when the COVID pandemic forced a complete shutdown of the sport in March 2020 . It was a brutal lockdown for runners , as it literally stopped their world in its tracks for two years , because while many other businesses were able to adapt and keep ‘ running ,’ the actual ‘ business ’ of running ground to a halt , and the athletes suffered immensely . Maxime says it was the resilience and strength of Hendrick that kept the Zoo Lake Group motivated and focused . In other words , he found a way for the group to keep training during the initial hard lockdown of Level Five , often before the sun had risen . The circumstances were tough and the training was no easier , but the athletes saw just how deep that well of resilience was inside each of them .
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When South Africa reached Level Four , Hendrick arrange for Maxime to train in the Johannesburg Stadium on a Wednesday , usually doing 2x2000m . “ It was there I learnt to run alone , and to love running alone . Even though I always lead the group in training , you are still in a group . Those 2000 ’ s taught me I can run fast on my own . I was clocking 5:20 ’ s and 5:25 ’ s ,” says Maxime , and remember , this was in the dead of winter , just after a five-week hard lockdown had badly disrupted his training . As a result , it looks like the pandemic actually helped to hone Maxime ’ s mental fortitude and resilience , and his self-belief is now at heights not seen in a long time in South African athletics circles .
Also , Maxime is part of a group of youngsters who have , in 2022 , set the running scene alight . Most are in their early 20s , athletes such as Nicholas Seoposengwe ( 21 , and one of Maxime ’ s training
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partner ), Andries Sesedi ( 21 ), Kabelo Seboko ( 24 ) and the more ‘ mature ’ Mbuleli Mathanga at 28 , and they have shown almost scant respect to their more illustrious counterparts such as Precious , Stephen and Elroy Gelant . “ Make no mistake , we respect them immensely , but we are not willing to let them beat us because of their names . They must beat us properly , because we are hungry ,” says Maxime .
Focusing on the Track
Maxime and Hendrick have a very clear plan for the next four to five years for Maxime ’ s career . “ I ’ m going to be focusing on the track for the next four or five years , because I am still young , and I have unfinished business there . I will stay there until I am ready to hit the roads around 26 or 27 , and will then race mainly the 10km , and the odd half marathon . I will look at the marathon around my 30 ’ s ,” says Maxime .
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As part of this clear plan , he has set his sights on qualification for the 2023 World Championships in Budapest , Hungary , from 19 to 27 August , and says he has his eyes set on both the 1500m and the 5000m . “ If I qualify for both , I ’ ll do both , but if I only qualify for one or the other , that ’ s also fine .” Maxime says he models himself on Norway ’ s Jackob Ingebritsen , who at the age of 22 is already a World Champion ( 5000m ), an Olympic Champion ( 1500m ), a four-time European Champion ( 1500m / 5000m doubledouble ) and a three-time European Indoor Champion ( 2x300m ; 1x1500m ). “ Ingebritson was so dominant in the 1500m with his speed , but it was his training that gives him that strength and speed in the 5000m . So , I will still be training for and racing in the1500m , but I have an eye on the 5000m too .”
To achieve his main goal next August , Maxime already began training for it now in 2022 . “ I ’ ve been in base training since October and feel hungry to race now . My aim is to qualify early in the new year , and then go back into a hibernation block .” ( Hibernation is what the Zoo Lake Group call a form of winter or base training .) However , Maxime acknowledges that qualifying for the World
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Championships will be really tough . “ We really have no opportunities here in South Africa next year , but with the relationship I have with Gianni now , I know I will get into races in Europe , so I know I will make the start line in Budapest .”
So , with that in mind , Chaumeton has pencilled in his goals for 2023 as the World Championships in Budapest , competing in the Diamond Leagues , representing South Africa in the 5km at the World Running Championships in Riga , Latvia at the end of September , and running a couple of 10km road races as well . He adds that he will rely heavily on his management team to help pick those races , with a focus on the international circuit , so he may not race much in South Africa in 2023 .
When asked about his specific time goals , Maxime tends to keep his cards a bit closer to his chest , but did let slip that a sub-13min 5000m is very much on his list , and he has other extremely high personal goals . “ One thing I believe is that when my career is done , I will have medalled at the World Championships and Olympics . I want to win either one of those titles in my career , possibly both , and I know I will have set some South African Records . I also firmly believe that a 2:01 or even a 2-hour marathon is within my capabilities .” That ’ s confidence for you , and thanks to his ever-improving performances in 2021 and 2022 , this young man has reason to be confident .
Maxime ’ s PBs
1000m 2:27.84
1500m 3:43.50
Mile 3:59.01
3000m 7:56.30
5000m 13:42.56
10km 27:58
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