Category: Athletics

The annual 𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟𝗦 𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗦 event between the Union Schools and Laer Volkskool was held during the month of October.

In perfect weather conditions, our beautiful school fields were a hive of activity where the athletes were involved in various track and field events, such as long jump, high jump, shot put, sprints, middle-distance running and relays.

𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱.

All participants need to be commended on their good sportsmanship throughout the day, which ensured that an enjoyable event could take place. 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴, 𝘓𝘢𝘦𝘳 𝘝𝘰𝘭𝘬𝘴𝘬𝘰𝘰𝘭, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵.

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 to the athletes representing Union for clinching the overall victory with a score of 863, surpassing Volkskool’s score of 802.

During the meeting 14 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗦 were set, of which 7 were by Union athletes. The new records are as follows:

• Boys u/7 60m: Aiden van der Walt (UNION) – 10.00s (previous record: 10.10s)
• Boys u/13 1500m: Jarrod Gerber (LVS) – 5:03.65 (previous record: 5:24.56)
• Boys u/12 1200m: Lukhona Bulembu (UNION) – 4:11.78 (previous record: 4:20.68)
• Girls u/10 High Jump: Leah Abader (UNION) – 1.07m (previous record: 1.05m)
• Boys u/7 80m: Kainon Swartz (UNION) – 13.41s (previous record: 13.61s)
• Girls u/11 80m: Janike van Zyl (LVS) – 11.45s (previous record: 12.11s)
• Boys u/13 Long Jump: Jordan Maritz (UNION) – 4.89m (previous record: 4.57m)
• Girls u/11 100m: Janike van Zyl (LVS) – 14.28s (previous record: 14.44s)
• Boys u/13 800m: Jarrod Gerber (LVS) – 2:25.26 (previous record: 2:37.38)
• Boys u/10 Long Jump: Jacobus Wolfaardt (LVS) – 4.11m (previous record: 3.84m)
• Boys u/12 Shot Put: Dante Mills (UNION) – 9.78m (previous record: 9.51m)
• Boys u/11 High Jump: Kobus Lotter (LVS) – 1.27m (previous record: 1.25m)
• Boys u/12 Long Jump: JP Lombard (LVS) – 4.94m (previous record: 4.17m)
• Boys u/13 High Jump: Jordan Maritz (UNION) – 1.42m (previous record: 1.38m)

Saturday, 10 February, saw several Union High School, Graaff-Reinet athletes showcasing their skills across various disciplines at the Beyers Naudé High School Athletics Meet held at Hoër Volkskool, with their stellar performances earning several of them the opportunity to represent the Dr Beyers Naudé Municipality at the upcoming Sarah Baartman Athletics Meet in Gqeberha, planned for Wednesday, 21 February.

𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗘 to:

• 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗴, who secured an impressive 3rd place in the Boys u/16 Shotput category, while 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗵 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀, sprinted his way to a 2nd place finish in the Boys u/16 100m race.

• In the field events, 𝗞𝘆𝗹𝗮 𝗣𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿’s prowess in the Girls u/14 Discus event earned her a well-deserved 2nd place. 𝗝𝗮𝘆𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗢𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗮𝗹, a force to be reckoned with in the Boys u/19 Shotput, claimed the 2nd place spot, while 𝗫𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗼𝘄 showcased his impressive jumping abilities, securing 2nd place in the Boys u/17 Long Jump.

• 𝗗𝘆𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱𝗼, a versatile athlete, showcased his skills in both the Boys u/19 High Jump and Long Jump events. With a 3rd place finish in High Jump and a 2nd place finish in Long Jump, Kivedo left his mark as a true competitor to watch.

• The Girls u/19 category saw outstanding performances from 𝗖𝗮𝘆𝘁𝗮𝗵-𝗟𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗞𝗼𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗴, who claimed 1st place in Discus and 3rd place in Shotput. 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗿𝗮 dominated the Girls u/16 Shotput event, securing a well-deserved 1st place finish. 𝗞𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗴 showed good technique in the Boys u/17 Shotput, earning him 1st place in his category.

• 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝘄𝗲𝗿, a rising star in the Girls 16 division, secured 1st place in Girls u/16 High Jump and a 2nd place in Long Jump, while 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗶 𝗞𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘇𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗻 claimed 2nd place in the Girls u/19 Shotput and 1st place in Javelin.

As a result of their outstanding performances, 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝘄𝗲𝗿 (Girls u/17 High Jump), 𝗞𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗴 (Boys u/17 Shotput), 𝗝𝗮𝘆𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗢𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗮𝗹 (Boys u/19 Shotput) and 𝗗𝘆𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱𝗼 (Boys u/19 Long Jump) have been selected to progress to the next round.

𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘴’ 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬’𝘴 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘩 𝘉𝘢𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘈𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘔𝘦𝘦𝘵.

Union High School, Graaff-Reinet extends a big word of 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 to the following athletes who have been selected to represent the Graaff-Reinet High Schools’ CMC Athletics Team at the Sarah Baartman Athletics Meet being held at the Oval in Gqeberha on Thursday, 16 February:

• Anna Bouwer (Girls u/15 shot put)
• Musa Zweni (Girls u/19 shot put, discus, javelin)
• Qhama Solomon (Boys u/14 high jump, long jump)
• Luvela Makaula (Boys u/14 400m)
• Liso Booi (Boys u/15 400m)
• Peter-Daniel Clegg (Boys u/15 shot put)
• Nangawethu Macanda (Boys u/17 shot put)
• Kyle Liebenberg (Boys u/17 shot put)
• Xavier Barlow (Boys u/17 long jump)
• Jayden Odendaal (Boys u/17 shot put)
• Joshua Swartland (Boys u/19 100m)

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘥𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰 𝘡𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘔𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘰ë𝘳 𝘝𝘰𝘭𝘬𝘴𝘬𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘺, 4 𝘍𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺. 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘥 30 𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘥 13 𝘎𝘰𝘭𝘥, 8 𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 13 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘻𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭.

Erin Mitchell made the school very proud with her recent participation in the Provincial High School Athletics Championships.

Athletes from all seven mega districts: Alfred Nzo, Amathole, Sarah Baartman, Chris Hani, Joe Gqabi, Nelson Mandela Bay Metro and OR Tambo attended the event in Cradock on Friday, 6 March, to compete for a place in the Eastern Cape Provincial team that will compete in the upcoming National Championships.

Erin participated in the Girls u/17 High Jump event where she placed 6th overall.

Union youngsters win annual interschools athletics

The annual primary interschools athletics event between the Union Schools and Laer Volkskool was held on Tuesday afternoon, 3 March.  The meet took place at Laer Volkskool.

The competition was stiff as the learners faced off in various items such as long jump, high jump, shot put, sprints, long distance running and relays.

Union’s athletes, however, were determined to make their mark in their respective track and field events and their ‘never-say-die’ attitude and their resolve on the track and field shone through.

Their determination saw Union collecting 653 points to win the encounter against Volkskool (605).

“The conditions were perfect for the participating athletes and they delivered some of the best performances seen in years,” said Mr Floris Steenkamp, Union’s Junior Sports Administrator.

“It was clear that our athletes prepared well for their events and that their spirit was unwavering. A big congratulations must go to all our learners who competed with amazing sportsmanship and pride – we are extremely proud of you.”

The event was excellently hosted by Laer Volkskool and Union thanks them for their efforts!

• Noteworthy performances on the day, include:

𝐮/𝟕:
– Grade 1 learner Taylor Jacobs won the Girls u/7 60m and 80m events. Emma Burger joined her on the podium both times in 3rd and 2nd place respectively.
– Uthmaan Steel won the Boys u/7 60m and 80m events, with Raydon Herndricks coming in third in both races.

𝐮/𝟖:
– The Girls u/8 60m event saw Hayle Krige coming in second and Lisa Kungawo coming in third. Lisa, however claimed the win in the 80m race, with Hayle coming in a close second.

𝐮/𝟗:
– Abonani Matushe came in second in the Girls u/9 60m event, followed by Miley Burger in third place. When it came to the 80m event, Abonani was first to cross the finish line.
– Jordan Maritz came second in both the Boys u/9 60m and 80m events.

𝐮/𝟏𝟎:
– Mia Botha came second in the Girls u/10 80m and 100m events and first in the 1200m race.
– Ethan Raath came in third in the Boys u/10 100m race and third in the 1200m.
– Emma Watson, who celebrated her birthday, came in second in the Girls u/10 Long Jump, followed by Alyssa Trollip in third place. Emma also won the High Jump event, with Alyssa coming in third.
– Owen Paxton came in second in the Boys u/10 Long Jump and High Jump events with Quinn Naude coming in third in both events. Owen also came in second in the Boys u/10 1200m.
– Kyla Putter won the Girls u/10 Shot Put, followed by Nadine Murray in second place. Nadine also came in second in the Girls u/10 1200m.
– Tristan Naude claimed second place in the Boys u/10 Shot Put.

𝐮/𝟏𝟏:
– Lulinke Vumazonke came third in the Boys u/11 80m event as well as in the 100m race.
– The Girls u/11 High Jump was dominated by Union, with Jasmine Abercrombie coming in first, Zoe Hobson second and Grace Kemp third.
– It was 3 for 3 for Union in the Boys u/11 High Jump as well, with Liso Sobantu coming in first, Dwayne Koeberg second and Warren Barlow third.
– Grace Kemp claimed third place in the Girls u/11 Shot Put as well as in the 1200m.
– Junior de Bruyn won the Boys u/11 Shot Put with Richard Murray coming in second.
– Warren Barlow came in third in the Boys u/11 1200m.

𝐮/𝟏𝟐:
– Jamae-Mari Davids came in second in the Girls u/12 100m, first in the Girls u/12 Long Jump, third in the High Jump and third in the 1200m.
– Josh Arends came third in the Boys u/12 100m.
– Anna Bouwer came second in the Girls u/12 150m, followed by Katelyn Trollip in third place. Anna also came first in the Girls u/12 High Jump and third in the Long Jump, while Katelyn claimed second place in the Shot Put.
– Peter-Daniel Clegg came second in the Boys u/12 150m, followed by Liso Booi in third place. Peter-Daniel also came third in the Long Jump, while Liso claimed another third place in the High Jump.
– Tara Ferreira came in second in the Girls u/12 High Jump and third in the Shot Put.
– Xarah Hoffman won the Girls u/12 Shot Put.
– The Boys u/12 Shot Put was won by Siba Mbuyte.
– Daisy Sears won the Girls u/12 1200m, followed by Leigh-Ann Murray in second place.
– Josh Arends came third in the Boys u/12 1200m.

𝐮/𝟏𝟑:
– Lisa Menos won the Girls u/13 100m, while the Boys u/13 100m was won by Lukhana Kettledas in first, Matthew Paxton in second and Shaakir Kazi in third place.
– The Girls u/13 200m event was also won by Lisa Menos, with Zelresch Frazenburg in second place and Aaminah Steele in third place.
– Lukhana Kettledas won the Boys u/13 200m and Long Jump events, with Matthew Paxton coming in second in both events and Xavier Barlow coming in third in the Long Jump.
– Farronique Booysen came in second in the Girls u/13 Long jump.
– Lisa Menos won the Girls u/13 High Jump, followed by Farronique Booysen in second place and Aaminah Steel in third place.
– Nate Jaftha ended third in the Boys u/13 High Jump.
– Anna-May Hayes came in second in the Girls u/13 Shot Put, followed by Uyathanda Sididi in third place.
– Matthew Paxton claimed third place in the Boys u/13 Shot Put.
– Lisa Menos came first in the Girls u/13 800m. She also claimed first place in the 1500m, with Keza Neill coming in third.
– Matthew Paxton came in first in the Boys u/13 800m and 1500m. Lukhanya Kettledas claimed third place in the 800m.

Union High School had two athletes competing at the Sarah Baartman District Championships at Port Elizabeth’s Westbourne Oval on Friday, 14 February.

Union’s athletes did very well against stiff competition at this prestigious event, with Mack Rubidge placing first in the Boys u/19 Shot Put event with a distance of 11.47m and achieving a new personal best in the Boys u/19 High Jump event with a height of 1.7m cleared.

Athletes do well at annual meet

On Saturday, 5 October, 10 athletes represented Union High School at the annual Bestmed TAMS Superspar Madibaz Top 10 athletics meet held on the tartan athletics track at the Cradock Sports Stadium.

The 2019 event featured a total of 80 teams, with the Union athletes’ enthusiasm evident in their participation despite the heat.