Ndou steals the show with SA New Record at Curro Podium Athletics North
Matodzi Ndou’s star shone the brightest on the day when Curro Hazeldean announced themselves as a coming force in school athletics. Ndou was one of over 2 000 athletes representing 55 schools that descended on the Pilditch Athletics Stadium in Tshwane on Wednesday, 18 September 2024 to compete at the Curro Podium North Athletics Meet vying to be one of just 40 schools that will make the cut to take part in the Curro Grand Finale next February.
As Curro Hazeldean’s Olympic silver medalist Bayanda Walaza watched from the stands, the 17-year-old Curro Hazeldean Grade 11 learner delivered a performance to remember as he defeated Tukssport High School’s Phenyo Myen to win the Boys U17 110m hurdles in 12.94, which was a new South African record. Ndou's time is not only the third fastest time ever run by a 17-year-old boy on planet Earth, but also the world-leading time for 2024.
“It feels great. It’s something that I’ve been planning, but I wasn’t really sure if I was going to run this fast. I’m still processing it all. It’s really amazing to run here with some of the best athletes,” said Ndou reflecting on a run that saw him become South Africa’s very first U17 Boy to dip under thirteen seconds for the event.
For his superlative efforts, Ndou was named best Senior Boys Track athlete of the meet for the second consecutive year - an accolade which was no doubt topped by the fact that his display also led the Curro Hazeldean Boys team to a maiden victory in the boys section after taking second place in 2023. While praising the efforts of the group, Curro Sport Portfolio Manager, Cindy Van der Merwe emphasised the broader role that Curro Podium meetings play in unearthing the next generation of Olympians.
“What we have in mind when it comes to Curro Podium is to give athletes the opportunity to be exposed to a next level event. We see the bigger picture. We are already looking for the future Bayanda in Matodzi. And it would make our hearts warm if, at the next Olympics in Los Angeles, we have four to six athletes representing South Africa that ran at our Podiums.”
Two of those #LA2028 Olympians will surely be Tukssport High School’s Selena Rocha who produced a scorching 11.69 in the Girls 17 100m and 23.92 in the Girls 17 200m to win the Best Senior Girls Track Athlete. Hencu Lamberts also had a good day. The Afrikaans Hoër Seuns thrower who represented the country at the recent World Athletics U20 Championships in Peru, won the shotput in 18.40 and claimed second place in the discus (50.55) to finish the competition as the Best Senior Field Athlete. The overall competition was won by Die Hoërskool Menlopark who placed third in both the girls and boys section, earning enough points to defend their title. The complete list of winners is included below:
Team winners
|
Category
|
Position
|
School
|
|
Best Girls Team
|
1
|
Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool
|
|
2
|
Noordheuwel Hoërskool
|
|
3
|
Die Hoërskool Menlopark
|
|
Best Boys Team
|
1
|
Curro Hazeldean High School
|
|
2
|
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
|
|
3
|
Die Hoërskool Menlopark
|
|
Best Team
|
1
|
Die Hoërskool Menlopark
|
|
2
|
Curro Hazeldean High School
|
|
3
|
Waterkloof Hoërskool
|
Individual trophy winners:
|
Award
|
Name
|
School
|
Discipline
|
ASA Points
|
|
Best Jnr Boy Field Athlete
|
Joshua Gerber
|
Die Hoërskool Menlopark
|
Discus
|
1000
|
|
Best Jnr Girl Field Athlete
|
Daniella Fourie
|
Die Hoërskool Menlopark
|
Discus
|
931
|
|
Best Jnr Boy Track Athlete
|
Emile Els
|
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
|
3000m
|
907
|
|
Best Jnr Girl Track Athlete
|
Megan Nieman
|
Die Hoërskool Menlopark
|
90m Hurdles
|
1000
|
|
Best Snr Boy Field Athlete
|
Hencu Lamberts
|
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
|
Shotput
|
958
|
|
Best Snr Girl Field Athlete
|
Christé Loedollf
|
Die Hoërskool Menlopark
|
Discus
|
1000
|
|
Best Snr Boy Track Athlete
|
Matodzi Ndou
|
Curro Hazeldean High School
|
110m Hurdles
|
1000
|
|
Best Snr Girl Track Athlete
|
Selena Rocha
|
Tukssport High School
|
200m
|
989
|
The next leg of the Curro Podium Athletics competition will take place in the south of the country, at Dal Josaphat Stadium in Paarl, Western Cape on Saturday, 19 October 2024, followed by the Grand Finale in February 2025.
Article Courtesy of www.nadiarossouwpr.co.za
CAPTIONS:
Photo 1: Matodzi Ndou stuns Pilditch crowd with a new SA Boys 17 110m hurdles record.
Photo 2: Curro Hazeldean High School secured their maiden victory in the boys team section at a Curro Podium North Meet.
Photo 3: Die Hoërskool Menlopark defended their title as they earned the most points of any school competing at the 2024 Curro Podium North Meet.
Photo Credit: Cecila van Bers.
