TZANEEN – The Soutpansberg Interhoër 2026 will be remembered as a celebration of sporting excellence, camaraderie, and the unmistakable Plasie spirit that defined the day.

Plasies show their strength is in team participation

Merensky Agricultural Academy’s strength was particularly evident in the team categories.

Their girls’ team topped the standings with 683.5 points, ahead of Hoërskool Pietersburg (570.5) and Hoërskool Louis Trichardt (505).

In the boys’ division, Merensky again led with 528.5 points, followed by Tom Naudé Technical High School (454) and PHS (452).

Merensky’s Leandré breaks four records

A total of 19 records were broken during the event, highlighting the exceptional calibre of athletes on display.

Leandré de Lange delivered one of the most remarkable individual performances of the day in the girls u/17 division, setting new records in the 100m hurdles (14.91 seconds), high jump (1.60m), long jump (5.50m), and triple jump (11.30m).

Anita Beukes also made her mark by equalling the girls’ u/17 high jump record at 1.60m.

Medal tally

Merensky’s dominance extended to the medal standings, where they collected 46 gold, 43 silver, and 31 bronze medals. PHS followed with 39 gold, 29 silver, and 30 bronze medals, while Louis Trichardt secured 32 gold, 26 silver, and 22 bronze.

Tom Naudé earned 14 gold, 23 silver, and 30 bronze medals. Hoërskool Frans du Toit finished with four gold, eight silver, and seven bronze medals, while Northern Academy claimed four gold, five silver and 11 bronze.

Hoërskool Eric Louw secured two gold, five silver, and six bronze medals, and Curro Heuwelkruin rounded up the tally with one gold, three silver, and seven bronze medals.

Victor and Victrix Ludorum

Individual excellence was recognised through the Victor and Victrix Ludorum awards. Leané Nagel (PHS) was named junior Victrix Ludorum, while Temi Jegede (LTT) took the junior Victor Ludorum title.

Chrizette Odendaal (LTT) was crowned senior Victrix Ludorum, and Jordan Smith (PHS) claimed the senior Victor Ludorum honour.

Individual trophies

In the track and field categories, several athletes stood out:

• Leané Nagel (PHS) was named best junior girl (track) for her 100m performance worth 811 points. Kagiso Thobejane (MLA) earned best junior boy (track) for his 100m hurdles performance, scoring 780 points.
• Chrizette Odendaal (LTT) claimed best senior girl (track) with 837 points in the 100m hurdles, while Jordan Smith (PHS) secured best senior boy (track) with 884 points in the 100m.
• In the field events, Lienke le Roux (LTT) was best junior girl (shot put – 794 points), and Temi Jegede (LTT) was best junior boy (long jump – 793 points).
• Elni le Roux (LTT) earned best senior girl (shot put – 808 points), and Johan van Wyk (PHS) was best senior boy (shot put – 886 points).
• Johan van Wyk’s performance was also recognised as the best single boys’ performance of the day.
• Chrizette Odendaal’s 837-point hurdles race earned her best single girls’ performance.

Coveted spirit cup lifted by Plasies

Merensky was named best hurdles school, best javelin school, best high jump school, best long jump school, and best middle- and long-distance school.

PHS excelled in sprints and discus, while Louis Trichardt claimed the best shot put school title.

The performance trophy, awarded based on total points achieved divided by the number of learners in the school, went to Louis Trichardt.

School spirit added to the festive atmosphere.

Lourens Swanepoel of PHS was named best boy cheerleader, while Alissa Venter of Merensky Agricultural Academy earned the best girl cheerleader award.

PHS received best entrance, Frans du Toit won best prepared song, and Merensky secured best cheerleaders group.

Merensky Agricultural Academy also lifted the coveted spirit cup, followed by PHS in second place and Frans du Toit third.

In the tug-of-war competition, Merensky won the junior division, while PHS claimed victory in the senior category.

Thank you to the sponsors

Merensky thanked Miami Canners, VKB Group, Roman’s Pizza, BB Motors Tzaneen, Corruseal Group, Talisman Plant Hire Tzaneen, and MTN South Africa.

Gold: ZZ2, NTT Tzaneen, Krabbefontein. Silver: Wisani Tzaneen, Steers Hoedspruit, Magaliesberg Citrus Company Pty Ltd, Van Heerden Pharmacy Tzaneen, Lannie Motors, SPAR Aqua, and Carinflex (Pty) Ltd, who made the day possible.