Curro Podium North delivers record-breaking athletics performances
23 September 2025Learners from across South Africa showcased their talent at the Curro Podium Northern regionals, held on 19 September 2025 at Pilditch Stadium in Tshwane. The event drew 2401 athletes from eight provincial athletics bodies, making it the largest high school athletics meeting in the region.
Photo credit: Charmaine Botes Visser
Future stars shine on track and field
Athletes from Central Northwest, Free State, Gauteng North, Mpumalanga, Northwest, Vaal Triangle, Central Gauteng, and Limpopo competed across multiple disciplines. Cindy van der Merwe, Portfolio Manager at Curro Sport, praised their performances: ‘These young athletes are the future of South African sport. The Curro Podium Series gives them the chance to compete at a serious level and chase their dreams of representing their country.’
Eighteen-year-old Tumi Ramokgopa from Prestige College set a new South African junior record in the 100m hurdles, finishing in 13.15 seconds. This improved her previous mark of 13.22 set at the ASA Grand Prix 2 earlier this year, where she first surpassed Taylon Bieldt’s 2016 record of 13.35.
Sixteen-year-old Tiisetso Malungane of Curro Hazeldean continued his strong season by setting a personal best in the 3000m with a time of 8:35.57, bettering his previous best of 8:50.11. Mukona Manavhela, who had already excelled in the ASA U18 sprints and at the African Championships, broke the Boys U17 200m record in 20.82 seconds.
Megan Nieman from Menlopark High School impressed once again. She won the U17 100m hurdles in 13.20 seconds, improving on the previous record of 13.27, and added a U17 400m hurdles record of 58.25 seconds.
Other standout performances included Isabella Gunter from Montana High School, who set a new Girls U17 200m record of 23.77 seconds, and Jaydon Fairlie, who broke the U15 200m and 400m records with 20.80 and 46.19 seconds respectively.
Photo credit: Gerrit Van Der Linde
Team awards
- Best Boys’ Team: 1st – Menlopark High School; 2nd – Curro Hazeldean; 3rd – Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
- Best Girls’ Team: 1st – Menlopark High School; 2nd – Noordheuwel High School; 3rd – Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool
- Best Combined Team: 1st – Menlopark High School; 2nd – Curro Hazeldean; 3rd – Helpmekaar College
Photo credit: Charmaine Botes Visser
Individual awards
- Junior Track Athlete – Male: Jaydon Fairlie, Noordheuwel High School (2000 ASA points)
- Junior Track Athlete – Female: Chane Fourie, Noordheuwel High School (2000 ASA points)
- Junior Field Athlete – Male: Jaco van Dyk, Menlopark High School (2000 ASA points)
- Junior Field Athlete – Female: Daniella Fourie, Menlopark High School (1968 ASA points)
- Senior Track Athlete – Male: Stiaan Myburgh, Helpmekaar College (1918 ASA points)
- Senior Track Athlete – Female: Megan Nieman, Menlopark High School (1989 ASA points)
- Senior Field Athlete – Male: Joshua Gerber, Menlopark High School (1900 ASA points)
- Senior Field Athlete – Female: Heidi Booysen, Homeschooling (1935 ASA points)
Building towards the future
‘Every child who steps onto the track carries untapped greatness,’ concludes Cindy. ‘We don’t just see future athletes or learners, we see tomorrow’s champions. Olympic medals and world records are just the beginning of what’s possible when talent meets opportunity.’
Photo credit: Gerrit Van Der Linde