The 2026 Laerskool Laeveld Aurum Athletics Meeting was a resounding success as young athletes from across the province took part and set a high benchmark for the season ahead.

Laeveld hosted Laerskool JJ van der Merwe, Laerskool Taalfees, Laerskool CR Swart, Laerskool Klipfontein, Laerskool Bergland, White River Primary School and the Badenhorst Athletics Academy during the meeting on Saturday, January 24. Like many recent events, there were concerns about whether it could go ahead due to the heavy rains earlier this month.

However, the staff at Laeveld worked hard to get the fields and track dry enough for a day of scintillating athletics. The sun blazed down as the young athletes battled it out for a place on the podium and a gold medal to boot.

This led to some impressive times and distances being recorded. The highest individual points tally of the day (917) belonged to CR Swart athlete Janay Janse van Rensburg, who ran a record-breaking 12.17 seconds in the girls’ U11 70m hurdles. The highest tally by a Lowveld athlete was achieved by Vanessa Badenhorst of the Badenhorst Athletics Academy, who earned 875 points for her record 10.18m throw in the girls’ U11 shot put.

A total of 12 records were broken on the day, while one was equalled. On two occasions – in the boys’ U11 70m hurdles and the girls’ U12 150m hurdles – each of the top five athletes recorded times faster than the previous record.

The top athletes for the day were:

• Best track athlete: Mianke Theron (JJ van der Merwe)
• Beste field athlete: Zelmari Maree (CR Swart)
• Junior victor ludorum: Benru van der Westhuizen (White River)
• Junior victrix ludorum: Miandi Bronkhorst (Laeveld)
• Senior victor ludorum: Siyamthanda Khumalo (JJ van der Merwe)
• Senior victorix ludorum: Janay Janse van Rensburg (CR Swart).