"It still feels unreal" - High-flying Phooko raises the bar on road to World U20's

It came as no surprise when junior high jumper Kenneth Phooko soared to the U18 boys' title in a lifetime best and schools record 2.20m at the South African Schools Track and Field Championships at the Pilditch Athletics Stadium on May 1. The remarkable clearance crowned a breakthrough season for the 16-year-old and secured his place among South Africa's brightest young athletics prospects ahead of the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, in August.

"Breaking the record feels amazing. I'm still in disbelief. I honestly wasn't expecting it, but I'm proud of myself and motivated to keep pushing even harder," he told #TheTopRunner.

Phooko earned a silver medal at the ASA Age Group Championships in March. Photo Credit: Lebogang Pita.

Pilditch Stadium has become something of a happy hunting ground for the Hoërskool Jeugland learner. Three of his best-ever jumps have come at the iconic Pretoria venue.

Just three days before the national schools championships, Phooko, coached by Jonathan Greyvenstein, cleared 2.15m at the SuperSport Simbine Classic to finish second behind Breyton Poole. He repeated the height at the Athletics Gauteng North Track and Field League Five meeting on May 16, underlining his growing consistency at elite level.

The foundations for his stellar campaign were laid earlier in the year when he first cleared the 2m barrier at the Wildeklawer TUT Curro Hazeldean Top 14 meeting at Pilditch. He then dominated the Central Gauteng Athletics season, clearing 1.90m twice before winning the provincial title with a jump of 1.95m at UJ Athletics Stadium.

At the ASA Age Group Championships in Germiston, Phooko produced another breakthrough performance, clearing 2.13m to claim silver, just 2cm behind winner Matao Le Roux. He followed that with a 2.05m effort in the CGA Senior League before exploding to new heights at the Simbine Classic and SA Schools Championships. According to Phooko, the confidence gained from the Simbine Classic played a key role in his record-breaking performance.

Kenneth Phooko in action during the ASA age-group track and field championships at Germiston Stadium. Photo Credit: Lebogang Pita.

"Winning silver at the Simbine Classic gave me confidence. I just needed to make a few small adjustments to my approach and timing. Everything clicked on the day. My run-up felt strong and I trusted my technique. The crowd was roaring, my coach and parents were cheering me on, and everything felt right in that moment," he said.

A high jumper since he was 10-years old, Phooko, who lists Qatari Olympic champion Mutaz Essa Barshim as his biggest influence, says the goal is to be the best in the world.

"I just jump for the love of jumping. I'm gradually starting to realise I can compete amongst the best of the best. I have to believe this if I want to achieve my goal of going to the Olympics one day. The end goal is the Olympics. I want to be known as the best in the world."

Now preparing to wear the green and gold on the world stage - he was named in the Athletics South Africa (ASA) preliminary squad for the World Athletics U20 Championships to be held in Eugene, Oregon in USA on 5-9 August 2026 - the Kempton Park resident remains grounded despite his rapid rise.

"It still feels unreal. When I saw my name announced in the team, my heart skipped a beat. Everything I’ve worked for felt worth it. Competing against the best in the world is terrifying but so exciting. It’s a dream come true, and I can’t wait."