WISBECH athlete De la Rey Veenendaal (17) picked up the 2009 under-17 outstanding track athletes of the year award at the recent Norfolk Amateur Athletics Association AGM and Presentation evening at the UEA Sportspark in Norwich. The Oakham School pupil

WISBECH athlete De la Rey Veenendaal (17) picked up the 2009 under-17 outstanding track athletes of the year award at the recent Norfolk Amateur Athletics Association AGM and Presentation evening at the UEA Sportspark in Norwich.

The Oakham School pupil's determined comeback after a 15-month injury enforced lay-off saw him delivering some tremendous performances which included three gold medals for the 100, 200 and 400 meters at the 2009 Norfolk County Championships and a Grade-1 performance of 11.2 seconds competing against some of the top under-17 sprinters to claim the bronze medal at the 16th Bedford International Games.

Competing in the colours of City of Norwich Athletics Club and Norfolk County, Veenendaal also achieved UK Athletics grade one standards for the 200m with a time of 22.7 seconds in the Southern Men's League and a time of 50.6 seconds for the 400m in the National Athletic Premier League.

The teenage speedster and Northampton Junior Saints Academy rugby player has a busy four weeks of rugby ahead of him having being named in the Midlands England Divisional squad for the RFU Under-18 Divisional Festival in Leeds from January 2 to 4 which also double as England under-18 trails after De la Rey put in excellent performances for East Midlands scoring in every match of the Midlands Under-18 Championship.

Following the Divisional Festival Veenendaal will turn his focus to the 2009/10 National Daily Mail RBS under-18 cup when Oakham first XV take on Ellesmere College in round six on January 13.