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Curro Podium Athletics North. In the wake of the recent Olympic Games, Curro Hazeldean, on behalf of Curro Holdings and in partnership with Athletics Gauteng North, will host the Curro Podium Athletics North meeting on Wednesday, 18 September at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria.
Curro believes that every learner matters. Accordingly, The Curro Podium event is hosted on international standards and is approved by Athletics SA, promoting athletic excellence and acknowledging athletes for their hard work and dedication.
Bayanda Walaza
In its second year, The Curro Podium Series is the ideal platform and breeding ground for future South African athletes who dream of participating at the highest level. At this event, no one has to look further than Curro Hazeldean matric learner Bayanda Walaza. He claimed a silver medal in Paris as part of the South African men’s 4x100m relay team. He also added two gold medals at the recent World U20 Track and Field Championships in Lima, Peru. There he won the 100m and 200m titles.
Adding more spice to the event are another two World Championship participants, Tumi Ramokgopa from Prestige College, a semi-finalist in the 400m hurdles who enters the girls’ U17 100m and 400m hurdles and Tuks Sport School’s Njabulo Mabatha, fourth in the 400m hurdles who looks for glory in the boys’ U17 400m hurdles.
These athletes are role models to all aspiring athletes and proof of what dedication and belief can achieve. Their participation in the Curro Podium North meeting will no doubt drive other young athletes to dig deep and deliver more than their best.
Develop future stars in sport
“Our goal is to create opportunities and develop future stars in sport. The Curro Podium Series is a world-class event that provides a breeding ground for future Olympic stars,” said Cindy van der Merwe, Portfolio Manager at Curro Sport. “Many more competitors at our events have gone on to compete in the World U20 Championships. Athletes like Timeke-Jade Coetzee, Timeke-Jade Coetzee, Kailje Botje and Chane Vermeulen to name a few.”
The quality of young athletes on show, who represent eight different athletic bodies from Central Northwest and the Free State to the Vaal Triangle and Limpopo among others, is of the highest caliber. This is a clear indication that Curro’s support and backing of athletics at school level is revitalising as well as developing what has been a secondary discipline behind the likes of cricket, rugby and soccer.
“Indeed, we are pleased to see other schools now elevating their athletics programmes in light of the opportunities available and dreams that can come to fruition,” said van der Merwe.
World U20 heroes
Besides the recent World U20 heroes, other young stars who will be competing include Christi Loggenberg (15) from Afrikaans Hoër Meisies. Also included are the SA U16 and U18 400m champion; Curro Hazeldean’s Tiisetso Malungane (14), the SA Cross Country champion in his age group this year and a SA U16 1500M silver medalist; Realeboga Smith (18) from Curro Hazeldean, a member of the 2024 SA Cross Country team participating at the World Champs in Serbia and Rachel Schultz (17) from Menlopark Hoërskool, the SA U18 800M champion.
Athletes will also compete for individual and team honours in 24 events, covering multiple track and field challenges. In October, the Curro Podium Athletics South meeting will be held in the Western Cape. The winners will join their northern counterparts to compete in the national final in February next year.
Tickets for the Northern meeting will be available at the gates on the day at R60 per person. The event is from 7am to 6:30pm.
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