Curro Salt Rock’s primary school athletics team delivered some stellar performances at a zonal meet in Durban last week.

Hosted at Port Natal in Glenwood, the event was a stop in the lead up to the KwaZulu-Natal Christian Schools Sports Association (KZNCSSA) Provincial Championship later this month.

Thirty-two young runners from the Salt Rock school were in action on the day, returning with 13 medals and three new KZNCSSA records along the way.

“What an incredible day for our athletics team!” said Curro primary school head of sport, Phelelani Mtembu.

“The results are a reflection of where we are going as a school. Beyond the medals, what truly stood out was the discipline, preparation, and the confidence with which our athletes approached their races.”

Mtembu, who is spearheading the development of Curro’s athletics department, emphasised that the event was more than just a competition.

“This was a clear reflection of the direction, structure and stability we are building within our athletics programme. Laying a good foundation is everything and what we are seeing now is the fruit of a programme built with proper timing, planning, and organisation.”

Standout performances came from middle-distance runners Oliver Oosthuizen (U13) and Christi Scheepers (U11), who both shattered association records.

Oosthuizen broke the association record in both the 800m and 1500m events, while Scheepers also made history over 600m.

“These achievements are no surprise,” added Mtembu.

“They reflect the dedication of our athletes, the commitment of our coaches, and the carefully structured programme we have put in place.”

Sixteen Curro athletes earned qualification for the association’s provincial championships at the Msunduzi Athletics Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on August 30 and 31.

Medal Highlights:

• Ameli Scholtz – Gold, U9 600m
• Oliver Oosthuizen – Double Gold, U13 800m & 1500m (New Records)
• Zian Brink – Double Bronze, U13 800m & 1500m
• Rayne Bryant – Bronze, U12 1200m
• Christi Scheepers – Gold, U11 600m (New Record)
• Quinn Botha – Double Gold, U13 100m & 200m
• Xander Brink – Bronze, U10 1200m
• Layah Fourie – Bronze, U11 1200m
• Kyla Oscroft – Silver, U13 1500m
• Hugo Lotrient – Silver, U9 600m
• Amelia Buckenham – Bronze, U8 600m

Cross-country

Over the same weekend, Curro Salt Rock also hosted an inter-school cross-country event that drew 25 schools from across KwaZulu-Natal on August 15.

Athletes from U9 to U13 raced a challenging 2km course around the school grounds.

Zian Brink secured a hard-fought silver medal in the U13 boys’ race, while teammate Oliver Oosthuizen narrowly missed a podium finish, placing fourth.

“The growth and spirit in our cross-country team are truly inspiring,” said Mtembu.

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