Tzaneen juniors shine at Limpopo Biathlon Champs
Junior athletes from Tzaneen impressed at the Limpopo Biathlon Championships, earning podium finishes, personal bests, and strong results.
TZANEEN – Junior athletes from Tzaneen delivered strong performances at the Limpopo Biathlon Championships on Saturday, December 6, hosted at Tzaneen Primary School.
Amery Vermaak of Larries claimed third place overall for girls u/11, with 2 062 points across the two events.
Other standout performances included Zene Gouws, u/15 girls, also from Larries, who finished second in the running event with a time of 02:39:54. Personal bests were achieved by Klara van Deventer (u/9), Leah-Mari van Deventer (u/11), Jaden de Beer (boys u/11), and Inge Jansen van Vuuren (u/13).
Additional strong showings came from Kyla de Beer (u/15), Charl Norval (boys u/13), Dylan van der Spuy, and Paul du Toit (both u/11).
Jany Norval of Ben Vorster High School secured second place in the girls’ u/17 category with 1 869 points, while Jamie Venter took first in the boys’ u/17. Merensky’s Rinae Tshauba placed second in the girls’ u/13 category.
Carina Gouws, a committee member of Limpopo Biathlon, praised the athletes’ determination despite challenging conditions, including thick grass on the running course.
“The swimming events at the municipal pool ran smoothly and were highly competitive,” she said.
Attention now turns to the final list of South African qualifiers, expected in January, and the Limpopo team for the national championships in Oudtshoorn on March 20–21, 2026.
Top 3 runners on points:
- Christiaan Snyders, boys’ u/8, Laerskool Krugerpark.
- Zene Gouws, girls’ u/15, Tzaneen Primary School.
- Leiliah Benderman, girls’ u/11, Phalaborwa Primary.
Top 3 swimmers on points:
- Karin de Wet, masters
- Amery Vermaak, u/11, Tzaneen Primary.
- Christiaan Snyders, Laerskool Krugerpark, boys’ u/8.
Top 3 athletes on points:
- Christiaan Snyders, Laerskool Krugerpark, boys’ u/8.
- Karin de Wet, masters.
- Amery Vermaak, u/11, Tzaneen Primary School.
