This fabulous fling of the talented young athlete made him qualify - comfortably - for this prestigious meeting.
Stephen’s feat at the Bredasdorp Top 10 Schools Athletic Meeting comes early enough in the athletics season to let him prove that this was not a fluke. He can reach distances of more than 70 metres again and again. His previous personal best was 68m.
Stephen’s family, his coach and his school are all thrilled as the prospect of him taking part abroad.
"Stephen is one determined athlete," says his coach, former Springbok javelinist Herman Potgieter.
"He has the talent, he has the independence of mind and he has the focus. This boy is going places."
They make an odd couple. The large coach in the wheelchair and the quiet, determined athlete. But they are a driven team. Under Potgieter’s guidance, Stephen spent the past winter working on a scientific muscle development program. He concentrated on strengthening the joining and stabilising points of the athlete’s muscles and the ability to deliver explosive power.
To this end Stephen used a heavier javelin of 1000g instead of his usual 700g one. He practiced for an hour in the morning before school and two hours every afternoon.
Full honorary colours
"Becoming a world-class javelinist is an expensive, long-term exercise," explains his mom, Lindsay Klue of Swellendam.
"Stephen was lucky in that he got a wonderful bursary from Outeniqua High that took care of a lot of his school needs. What we as parents should be able to add to this picture are proper shoes, equipment and supplements to boost his body. And we simply cannot do this.
"Like many people in the current economy, we are struggling and it breaks our hearts that this could mean hampering a potential international career."
Of course Lindsay and Anton find it hard to talk about personal financial struggles in an interview with a newspaper.
Outeniqua awarded Stephen full honorary colours for academics and sport earlier this year and this was the event that made them decide to overcome their own shyness for the sake of their son’s future.
"My son wears hand-me-down spikes that he got from a fellow javelinist, he uses using borrowed and second-hand javelins and had to do without the supplements his opponents use. We simply cannot afford these things, or extra practice gear.
"When I told him recently that I was sorry for him having to compete in out-of-date, curly-toed spikes, he comforted me. He said it was the person inside the shoes that counted, not the shoes themselves."
Stephen’s old spikes were able to retire recently. His uncle gave him the only specialist javelinist spikes available in South Africa and he enjoys them tremendously. But like many schoolboys of his age, he has dream shoes - Nike Zoom Elites which is only available abroad.
He got a second-hand Nordic Rapid recently, but it broke. He had it fixed, but it broke again.
Outeniqua came to the rescue with a practice javelin and has since acquired a Nemith for Stephen’s use.
"It amazes me that Stephen just keeps going despite all these setbacks he experienced last season," says Lindsay.
"He stays positive and works as if everything will get right."
Stephen will worry about travelling and other expenses when the time comes. For now, he worries about exercising.
Lindsay is an administrative clerk, currently out of work. Her husband, Anton, is a mechanic.
"Anyone willing to invest in Stephen can know one thing for sure: we are all willing to work hard and run - not walk - any extra mile," says Lindsay.
Potential sponsors can reach Stephen through the Outeniqua High School.
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A driven team: Stephen and coach, former Springbok Herman Potgieter.
Photos: Deon Sonnekus
