'My parents are my anchor' - Burger opens 2026 with a bang as she eyes World Juniors

Less than a month into the 2026 high school track and field season, and a number of South Africa's top youth and junior athletes are already finding their best form. 15-year-old Chelsea van Dyk set a new girls SA U16 steeplechase record, 17-year-old Megan Nieman dipped under 59 seconds for the 400m hurdles at the Noordheuwel Top 15 meet on 4 February and two days later, 16-year-old Tiisetso Malungane became the country's fastest U16 800m male athlete of all time when he clocked 1:48.2 at the 39th Menlopark Invitational Meeting. 

But perhaps most impressive of all at the beginning of 2026 has been the form of Rumé Burger. After opening her 200m season with a 23.62 clocking to qualify for the World Athletics U20 Championships later his year, Burger took it up a notch over the rarely run 150m. Running during the USN Simbine Classic Shootout at the same meet where Malungane wowed the middle distance faithful, the reigning SA 200m champion clocked 16.93 for 150m, the day before her 18th birthday, to eclipse the previous best of 17.51 set by Thamzin Thomas.

Burger has started the 2026 season well by signing a deal with Nike, qualifying for the World Junior Championships and setting a new SA best for 150m. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"It was so much fun," she told #TheTopRunner after her battle against Jada van Staden and fellow teenager Megan Nieman brought the hundreds of fans packed into the pavilion at the prestigious Pretoria school to their feet. 

"I really enjoyed it. The atmosphere here was unbelievable and it was enjoyable to take part here at Menlo. There was a bit of pressure on me, but I enjoy the pressure," she said after stopping to take selfies with scores of gushing youngsters as her father looked on while holding her bags and the bouquet of flowers presented to her when she crossed the finish line first.

Burger poses with the bouquet of flowers she received after winning the 150m in a new SA Best time at the USN Simbine Classic Shootout. Photo Credit: Rumé Burger.

It is a start to the season that will have all eyes closely fixed on the Oranjemeisieskool matric learner’s progress as she aims to balance her final year exams with a busy social life and a packed training and competition schedule designed to ensure she defends her national 200m crown and puts her best foot forward during her World Athletics U20 Championships debut in Oregon in August. Burger, who recently signed a full pro contract with Nike, says this delicate balancing act is only possible because of the unshakable foundation provided by her parents.

"It is indeed very busy. I'm trying my best to juggle everything and it's actually quite a lot of fun to do it all. My parents are very important to me. I don’t think I’d be able to do any of this without their support. They are my anchor."