Alvin’s Road to the Western Cape 800 m Championship

Vocabulary flashcards covering main characters, plot elements, literary terms, and athletic concepts from the lecture notes about Alvin’s 800 m journey.

Alvin

Protagonist and 800 m star athlete who struggles to improve his time and break past fourth place at the Western Cape Championships.

Mr. Hendricks

Alvin’s long-time coach who constantly motivates him and emphasises the mental side of racing.

Simphiwe Mbeki

Top competitor from Oscar Mpetha High School who usually wins the 800 m but is injured during the final race.

Fransman twins

Rival brothers who typically alternate between second and third place ahead of Alvin.

Western Cape Championships

Provincial athletics meet where Alvin repeatedly finishes fourth and hopes to finally medal.

Inner conflict

Alvin’s self-doubt and loss of motivation despite his talent and hard work.

Outer conflict

Alvin’s competition against Simphiwe and the Fransman twins on the track.

Climax

Moment in the race when Simphiwe is injured and Alvin wins, beating the Fransman twins for the first time.

Setting (space)

The athletics track where Alvin trains daily and where the championship race takes place.

Setting (time)

A month of training leading up to the big race, culminating on race day.

First-person narrator

Storytelling voice used, allowing readers to experience Alvin’s thoughts directly.

Theme

“If you work hard, nothing is impossible” – determination can overcome obstacles.

800 m race

Middle-distance event requiring a balance of speed, strength, and tactical positioning.

Slipstream

Aerodynamic pocket behind runners that reduces wind resistance, used tactically in middle-distance races.

Speed training

Coach Hendricks’s regimen of repeated 100 m, 200 m, and 400 m sprints to build power and pace.

Diet adjustment

New eating plan of fruit, oats, and no soda or fast food to optimise Alvin’s performance.

Mental vs. physical battle

Coach’s reminder that racing success depends more on mindset than leg speed alone.

Podium dream

Alvin’s visualisation technique of imagining himself finally standing in the top three positions.