Curro Podium Grand Finale 2026: Hazeldean tops boys’ standings as records fall in Tshwane
20 February 2026More than 1,500 athletes from eight provinces converged on Pilditch Stadium in Tshwane for the Curro Podium Grand Finale 2026, and the result was a championship marked by record-breaking performances and national rankings that strengthened South Africa’s school athletics platform.
Over two days, 45 schools competed across track and field events, with several athletes delivering times that secured Athletics South Africa (ASA) points and meeting records.
Photo credit: Charmaine Botes Visser
Tiisetso leads middle-distance charge
Sixteen-year-old Tiisetso Malungane of Curro Hazeldean delivered the headline performance of the weekend. He won the boys’ 1,500m in 3:45.35, setting a new Podium record and personal best. He followed that with victory in the 3,000m, clocking 8:21.03 to complete the distance double.
Across both events, Tiisetso accumulated 2,000 ASA points, placing him among the country’s leading middle-distance prospects.
Cindy van der Merwe, Portfolio Manager for Curro Sport, described the broader impact of the event: ‘More than a competition, the event serves as a pathway, unlocking raw potential, building belief, and revealing a pipeline of talent ready to carry South Africa’s sporting legacy forward.’
ASA uses World Athletics scoring tables to rank performances at events such as the Curro Podium Grand Finale, with 600 points widely regarded as a strong competitive standard at school level.
Tiisetso’s performance far exceeded that benchmark.
Photo credit: Gerrit van der Linde
Sprint records and Rising Stars impact
On the sprint track, Mukona Manavhela of Curro Hazeldean claimed the U19 boys’ 100m title in 10.20 seconds, a new Podium record. He added the 200m title in 20.52 seconds, completing a sprint double and contributing significantly to Hazeldean’s team tally.
In the U17 girls’ sprints, Sarah Reed of Curro Hillcrest delivered a decisive performance. She secured bronze in the 100m in 12.17 seconds and won the 200m in 24.24 seconds. Her 200m time surpassed the World U20 Athletics Championships qualifying standard of 24.35 seconds. She earned 965 ASA points across her sprint events.
Sarah also captained the Curro Rising Stars team, a select squad drawn from schools across the Curro network following consistent performances during the season.
The Rising Stars competed under the guidance of Mieke Vermeulen (Curro Durbanville), Ian Permall (Meridian Pinehurst), and Sebata Masehle (Curro Thatchfield), who ensured structured preparation and coordinated delivery throughout the weekend.
Photo credit: Gerrit van der Linde
Team standings and programme execution
Curro Hazeldean secured first place in the boys’ category with 21,392 points. Die Hoërskool Menlopark topped both the girls’ and combined categories, finishing with 21,943 points in the female division and 42,237 overall.
The event opened with the Curro Podium Primary Schools (North) programme for athletes aged seven to 13, followed by the Grand Finale Relays across 4x100m, 4x400m, Swedish and mixed formats. The ‘Akani Simbine Classic Shoot Out’ ran alongside the official ceremony and early track sessions, strengthening alignment with national high-performance pathways.
Natasha Mkhize, Executive: Strategic Relations, addressed athletes and supporters at the opening ceremony. ‘I saw nerves. I saw focus. I saw determination. Different journeys. Different stories. But the same fire in every set of eyes,’ she said. ‘This weekend is about opportunity. Every child matters. Every child.’
She also acknowledged the Ruta Sechaba Foundation for its role in widening access and thanked parents and teachers for their support.
Behind the scenes, Manus Hendriks and his organising team managed operations across the two-day schedule, with Tebogo Radebe overseeing on-field coordination and officiating support.
The championship was broadcast live on SuperSport Schools, expanding national visibility for participating athletes and programmes.
A national platform for school athletics
The Curro Podium series runs through regional meets in the north and south before culminating in the Grand Finale. Top athletes qualify for the championship based on seasonal performances, creating a structured pathway from school competition to national ranking.
As Cindy noted, ‘The Curro Podium creates a platform for young athletes to perform at their best and compete against top talent from across the country.’
At the 2026 finale, that platform delivered measurable results: meeting records, ASA points well beyond competitive thresholds, and a generation of athletes announcing themselves on the national stage.
Official team results
Girls category
- Die Hoërskool Menlopark (21 943)
- Noordheuwel Hoërskool (21 256)
- Helpmekaar Kollege (21 247)
- Paarl Girls’ High (21 171)
- Afrikaans Hoër Meisieskool (21 047)
- Hoërskool Waterkloof (20 642)
- Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof (20 601)
- Paarl Gimnasium (20 436)
- Montana Hoërskool (20 391)
- Oranje Meisies Skool (20 378)
Boys category
- Curro Hazeldean (21 392)
- Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool (21 185)
- Helpmekaar Kollege (20 405)
- Paarl Gimnasium (20 394)
- Die Hoërskool Menlopark (20 294)
- Tuks Sport High (19 701)
- Paul Roos Gimnasium (19 688)
- Pretoria Boys’ High (19 530)
- Paarl Boys’ High (19 364)
- Rustenburg Hoërskool (19 198)
Combined category
- Die Hoërskool Menlopark (42 237)
- Helpmekaar Kollege (41 652)
- Curro Hazeldean (41 600)
- Paarl Gimnasium (40 830)
- Noordheuwel Hoërskool (40 333)
- Hoërskool Waterkloof (39 826)
- Hoërskool Montana (39 265)
- Hoërskool Zwartkop (39 245)
- Hoërskool Kempton Park (38 184)
- Hoërskool Nelspruit (38 162)