Curro's Podium Athletics: High School Superstars Triumph October 19th, 2023
Curro's Podium Athletics North: A Thunderous Triumph for High School Superstars
High school athletes across the north of South Africa left it all on the track as Curro's high-voltage Podium Athletics North athletics meeting lit up Pretoria's Pilditch Stadium on Wednesday, 27 September 2023.
Flying the flag for the independent school group Curro Holdings, was Curro Hazeldean who played host to the event. Since launching earlier this year, Curro’s Podium Athletics event has been hailed as the most prestigious high school athletics event in Southern Africa and the Northern leg was nothing short of spectacular.
More than 1,600 of the region's most talented and ambitious young athletes from 52 schools took part, and despite challenging weather conditions, tired legs and aching muscles, young superstars delivered a thrilling athletic performance. Heavy rain persisted throughout the day, particularly intensifying towards the end. This resulted in the official prize-giving ceremony being cancelled. However, an inspiring opening ceremony, led by Curro CEO, Cobus Loubser, set the tone for the event, emphasising the resilience and determination of the young athletes.
Racing for Excellence
In a display of sheer dominance, athletes from Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool and Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool in Pretoria, delivered an astonishing track and field performance, seizing victory in both the boys' and girls' team competitions. Die Hoërskool Menlopark and Curro Hazeldean High School rounded out the top three schools, cementing their places amongst the northern elite.
Pierre le Roux, the Executive Head at Curro Hazeldean, expressed his pride and admiration for the athletes. "A huge congratulations to all the young sporting talents who took part in the second Curro Podium Athletics meeting. Pulling off an event of this magnitude showcases Curro's dedication to nurturing emerging sporting talent in South Africa and the incredible turnout and support we have received underscores the importance of events like this within the athletic community," he said.
Curro Hazeldean’s successes are especially noteworthy, with the boys' team securing a well-deserved second place, and surpassing even the reigning champions, Die Hoërskool Menlopark who had clinched the February 2023 title. “This achievement highlights the outstanding dedication of the coaches and the relentless training regimen of our athletes,” adds Le Roux.
The second-place finish notably contributed to the exceptional improvement of the girls' team from their previous performance in February, showcasing the school's commitment to enhancing both the boys' and girls' overall athletic performance.
Another worthy mention goes to Chris Swanepoel and Megan Nieman from Die Hoërskool Menlopark, alongside Hencu Lamberts from Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool and Matod Ndou from Curro Hazeldean High School who all achieved a perfect score of 1000 points on the ASA points system.
The Curro Podium Athletics North competition has earned the stamp of approval from Athletics SA (ASA) and received the full backing of Athletics Gauteng North (AGN). The hugely successful meeting was further underscored by the tremendous turnout and participation, with the under 15 girls' 200m race alone featuring a staggering 100 entries.
The next leg of the Curro Podium Athletics competition will take place in the south of the country, at Dal Josaphat Stadium in Paarl, Western Cape on Saturday, 28 October 2023, followed by the grand national finale early in 2024.
Article Courtesy of www.nadiarossouwpr.co.za