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ASA Age Group Championships. From hurdles to the middle distance, Curro athletes sweep the board at ASA Age Groups.
The Germiston Athletics Stadium crackled with promise this past weekend as the ASA Age Group Championships concluded after three days of fierce competition. Records fell, relay batons flew, and individual brilliance lit up the U16, U18, U20, and U23 categories. Among the brightest stars were Tiisetso Malungane, who dominated the U18 middle-distance events. He came within seconds of a 44‑year‑old national record, and Bintou Camara, who electrified the U16 sprints with double gold. Running through it all, quietly but forcefully, was an unmistakable thread: Curro.
“This weekend reflected what we have been building at Curro. To see our athletes competing and winning across multiple provinces, age groups, and disciplines – and doing so at a national level – is exactly what our athletics programme is designed to produce,” said Cindy van der Merwe, Curro Sport Portfolio Manager.
A Record Falls
The headline performance of the championships belonged to Matodzi Ndou. The Curro Hazeldean alumnus stormed around the track in 48.64 seconds. They break the U20 men’s 400m hurdles national record, slicing 0.09 off the mark set by former world U20 champion Sokwakhana Zazini in 2019. Competing for Athletics Gauteng North, Ndou claimed gold. He announced himself as one of the most exciting young hurdlers in the country.
Sprinting Sensation
While Ndou captured the headlines, the women’s sprints produced a performance of equal brilliance. Sarah Reed of Curro Hillcrest delivered what many described as the run of the weekend when she clocked 23.20 seconds in the U18 200m heats – the fastest time across all age groups, including the U23 women’s final. Reed went on to secure gold in the U18 200m final in 23.41 seconds, reinforcing her status as South Africa’s premier junior sprinter. Her heat time also elevates her to World Number 2 in the U18 200m rankings, placing her firmly on the global stage.
Middle-Distance Dominance
Curro’s strength extended beyond the sprints. Tiisetso Malungane of Curro Hazeldean swept gold in both the U18 800m and 1500m. His 1500m time of 3:45.82 came within three seconds of a South African youth record that has stood for 44 years – a performance that signals a rising star. His results also secured qualification for the World Championships in Oregon, USA later this year, while ranking him as the fastest athlete across the entire championships.
Tinyiko Ndala, also a Curro Hazeldean alumna, produced a commanding double in the U23 women’s 800m and 1500m, a gruelling feat that speaks to exceptional fitness and raw talent.
Gold Across the Field
Bintou Camara of Curro Hazeldean was untouchable in the U16 women’s 100m and 200m, claiming double gold and leaving little doubt about her status as the standout sprinter of her age group. Teammate Keriana Govender added silver in the 100m, making it a Curro Hazeldean one‑two.
Other standout performances included:
- Matimba Baloyi – U18 men’s 400m hurdles gold
- Mantle Tshelana – U16 men’s 800m gold and 1500m bronze
- Michaela Spocter (Meridian Pinehurst) – U20 women’s high jump gold
Beyond the Medals
Curro’s depth of representation extended beyond the podium.
- Bradley Maponyane reached the U23 men’s 200m and 400m finals, finishing fourth in both.
- Tshepo Tyantini claimed silver in the U23 men’s 100m and bronze in the 200m.
- Mukhona Manavhela impressed in the U20 men’s sprints, winning gold in the 200m and silver in the 100m.
- Amogelang Motlatle added bronze in the U20 women’s 100m hurdles.
- Miche van Staden (Curro Durbanville) secured bronze in the U20 women’s 200m.
A Talent Factory in the Making
The ASA Age Group Championships have long served as a proving ground for South Africa’s future internationals, and the 2026 edition was no different. With the World Junior Championships in Oregon later this year, several Curro athletes – including Ndou, Reed, Manavhela and Malungane – now set their sights on the global stage.
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