Benji and co break world record
Benji started his primary school at NPS in 2010 and immediately started making waves on the sport's front.
Benjamin Richardson, a name that from 2013 to 2016 at Nelspruit Primary School (NPS) became synonymous with tremendous speeds on the athletics track, has now captured the world’s attention. This follows after this 17-year-old bagged two medals, one silver and one gold, and broke a 4x100m relay world record at the recent World Athletics u/20 World Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.
Former Hoërskool Nelspruit athlete Zander van der Merwe, who made the final in javelin, finished eighth after his distance of 69,34 metres.
Benji started his primary school at NPS in 2010 and immediately started making waves on the sport’s front. He played provincial rugby, cricket and throughout his career at NPS, represented the Mpumalanga Schools athletics team.
He received the title for best athlete of 2013, and defended it for the next three years. In 2016, he was also the home runner for the 4x80m relays at the interschools meet, and set up a record that still stands to this day – 41.05.
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At the u/20 World Champs, the spotlight first fell on Benji when he grabbed silver in the men’s 100m final. He crossed the finish line in 10.28, just 0.09 seconds behind Botwana’s Letsile Tebogo. “Congratulations to Benjamin and coach for the silver medal,” said James Moloi, the President of Athletics South Africa.
Team SA were able to finish sixth out of 100 participating countries after a hard-fought and thrilling encounter across most codes, therefore amassing nine medals, including breaking the men’s U20 4x100m relay world record.
The relay team comprising Benji, who was the home runner, Sinesipho Dambile, Mihlali Xhotyeni and Letlhogonolo Moleyane finished in 38.51, followed by both Jamaica (38.61) and Poland (38.90).
The president himself, Cyril Ramaphosa, congratulated the team on the new world record.
“Congratulations to our 4x100m relay team for setting a new world record at the u/20 World Championships in Kenya. This stunning achievement by Africans on African soil deserves our applause and respect. This is how our youth move our nation and our continent forward. Well done!” the president tweeted.
“We at Nelspruit Primary are very proud of you Benji. We know that you will run in the next Olympic Games,” the school’s Albert van Putten said.
