David Maree has put his rivals on notice ahead of next month’s African Continental Track Championships. Photo: Owen Lloyd
David Maree has put his rivals on notice ahead of next month’s African Continental Track Championships in Cairo, Egypt.
The 31-year-old told In the Bunch that he is in better shape now than he was at last year’s championships when he emerged as South Africa’s star performer.
At those champs – which were also staged in Egypt – Maree won gold medals in both the points race and omnium, silver in the scratch race and bronze in the team pursuit.
Maree is also the reigning SA omnium champion and took first place at both the Satellite Classic and Joburg Omnium in 2020.
A confident-sounding Maree said ahead of this year’s African champs from March 10 to 13 that he’s got one major goal this time around.
“My training is going well. I did not have a big break through the December holidays last year.
“I believe I am in better shape now than I was at last year’s continental champs when I won the points race and omnium.
“This year the omnium is my big goal as it’s an Olympic event that I am hoping to qualify for (the SA team). Everything at the moment is leading up to Tokyo,” Maree confirmed.
The team to represent South Africa at the African track champs was named earlier in the month, but has been hit with a number of withdrawals.
As it stands at present, the five-man endurance team comprises Maree, Josh van Wyk, Kyle Swanepoel, Dillon Geary and Steven van Heerden.
