Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 113, December 2018 | Page 12

ROAD RUNNING
Scholarship runner: Leanda Du Bruyn
MA: What made you choose that
particular university?
I had just graduated from CPUT
and received a Facebook message
from the coach over there. It was very unexpected, but it was a once in a
lifetime opportunity, and the university looked amazing. Also, being in the
design field, I found the academics the best quality, as they had all the latest
technology and equipment.
Scholarship runner:
Letitia Saayman
Letitia graduated in December 2015 from Coastal Carolina University
with a major in Sociology and minor in Public Health, and then
secured a scholarship to do her Masters. She is engaged to her
American boyfriend of six years and plans to stay in the USA. In
cross country she is an All American and won a Regional title, along
with several individual awards and team titles, and on the track she
also won several Conference titles.
MA: What made you choose that particular university?
I was recruited by East Carolina University at the end of my Matric year, but
was unable to go. Fortunately I was then offered a scholarship from Coastal
Carolina University, with the help of Zola Pieterse. She was my ultimate role-
model, so to have her support was very important to me!
MA: Did you find it hard to acclimatise to your new environment?
Honestly, the first few months were hard. It is a completely different academic
and athletic culture, but having supportive teammates and also making friends
outside of athletics really helped me grow in the US. I had an on-campus job
where I got to meet a lot of strangers who later became friends. Also, Zola and
her family were my greatest support system, and if not for them, I would have
been way more homesick.
MA: What was it like competing against top runners from around the world?
The competition is out of this world! You compete against athletes with
PRs well above your own every time you go to a meet, but I saw it as an
opportunity for me to get better. I was not a top runner at first, but just
pushing through every season and working towards the goal of “being one of
them” paid off, and by my final year I was placed 18th in the country in cross
country and beat US girls who now have professional running sponsorships.
MA: Any advice for other
athletes in SA who hope to
go study in the USA?
This is not an easy path, you
will face challenges, but this
opportunity not only gives
you a chance to grow as an
athlete, but also as a person.
Chase your dreams!
after high school, because you
never know who will see you or
recruit you.
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ISSUE 113 DECEMBER 2018 / www.modernathlete.co.za
MA: Did you find it hard to acclimatise to your new environment?
Sometimes it was hard to be so far away from family, but I was blessed with
amazing teammates who I now see as my best friends! Also, the church
community and coaches were very supportive, and being able to skype/video call
my parents regularly was a big bonus!
MA: What was it like competing against top runners from around the world?
In 2017, our cross country team won Regionals and came third at Nationals, so we
had a strong team, but the running competition was next level! There was always a
full field of competition, track races would range from 10 to 15 heats with 18 girls
per heat, and cross country would range from anything between 100 and 300 girls
in certain races! One of the memories that I cherish was in 2018, when I tried to
qualify for D2 Nationals in the 1500m and only just missed the qualifying time by
0.01 of a second. My whole team knew how hard I worked for it, and how close
I actually got, so they just gave me a massive group hug, with no words. It’s a
moment I will never forget!
MA: Any advice for other athletes in SA who hope to go study in the USA?
My advice would be if you are passionate about running, don’t give up after high
school, because you never know who will see you or recruit you.
Scholarship runner:
Aynslee van Graan
Aynslee also attended
Coastal Carolina
University, graduating
in May 2018 with a
Bachelors degree in
Art Studio with a minor
in Art History. On the
track she won a few
Conference titles and
received numerous
All-Conference honours
for placing top 6 at Conference Champs, and qualified for the
Regionals in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
MA: What made you choose that particular university?
I received e-mails in my Grade 11 year from a coach at a University in
Tennessee and began considering studying in the US. At the same time,
Letitia Saayman, daughter of my coach Deon, left for CCU, and through
them, CCU became interested in me and my sister Kyla. CCU’s coaching
staff was really nice, so I felt comfortable going there.
MA: Did you find it hard to acclimatise to your new environment?
I was fortunate to have Letitia and Kyla there when I arrived, and they showed
me the ropes. Also, with Zola and her family involved with the university, we
had a strong network of South Africans around us.
MA: What was it like competing against top runners from around the world?
It was definitely a shock to go from competitive running in SA to the NCAA’s.
Fortunately, the competition in our conference was not as intense, which
helped us to gradually adapt, but in
the end I think the fact that I had to
run PB’s just to be in the top 48 of my
region helped me to grow as an athlete.
MA: Any advice for other athletes in
SA who hope to go study in the USA?
Make sure you research the colleges so
that the one you choose fits your needs
and preferences, but in the end the only
thing that will determine if you’ll want to
stay or go back home is your mindset,
and choice to be happy where you are.
Leanda was at California Baptist
University from September
2016 to May 2018, majoring in
graphic design, with a minor
in photography. She qualified
for Regionals and Nationals
in cross country, and only
just missed qualification for
Nationals in the 1500m by a
split second.