Nearly 2,000 athletes from 57 schools competed at Coetzenburg Athletics Stadium in Stellenbosch, making this the event’s biggest edition yet.
Stellenbosch, South Africa (28 October 2026) – The next generation of South African athletics talent was on display at Curro Podium South, with young competitors setting 67 records across two meetings in a weekend of impressive performances.
A total of 1,995 athletes from 57 schools took part at Coetzenburg Athletics Stadium. The primary school competition produced 48 records, while the high school meeting added another 19.
Now in its second year, the primary school event attracted 601 athletes from 19 schools. Open to competitors aged seven to 13, it gives young athletes the opportunity to compete for individual honours while contributing to their schools’ overall standings.
Meridian Pinehurst sprinter Dylan Calvert was among the standout performers. After making headlines in 2025 by breaking an 18-year-old national record in the under-11 80m, he returned to win the Boys Junior 100m in 11.80 seconds and the 150m in 17.59 seconds.
Calvert was one of four athletes to set two records at the primary school meeting. His schoolmates Dale Fillies and Chelsea Witbooi were also among those to achieve multiple records.
Durbanville Primary School finished at the top of the primary school team standings, followed by the Namibia Private School Organisation (NAPSO) and Huguenot Primary School.
The high school competition featured an equally impressive field, including African champions, national record holders and provincial record setters, many of whom are still in their teens.
Paarl Gimnasium’s Jayden Fourie, who won the 200m and long jump at the 2025 African Youth Games in Luanda, set the tone with a Podium record of 10.37 seconds in the Boys 17 100m. Paul Roos Gimnasium’s Vuyo Ngobeni, who holds a Western Cape 100m record of 10.75 seconds, clocked 10.56 seconds in the Boys 15 100m. Khotso Motsamai finished close behind in 10.67 seconds.
Other athletes bringing strong credentials to the meeting included African cross-country champion Lara Stander of Paarl Girls’ High and 14-year-old Lamicah Adamson of La Rochelle, who has broken the national under-15 200m record.
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The field events also delivered impressive results. Paarl Gimnasium’s Tyron Oncke threw 73.47m in the Boys 15 discus. A national under-16 champion, Oncke had been a top-scoring under-14 thrower just a year earlier.
The pole vault produced three records across three age groups. Reinhardt van Heerden cleared 4.72m in the Boys 17 event, while Alwyn Esterhuizen and Elvis Hwata each reached 4.30m in the Boys 15 and Boys 19 competitions, respectively.
Paarl Gimnasium also enjoyed success in the team events, finishing first in the boys’ standings ahead of Hoërskool Outeniqua and Paarl Boys’ High. Paarl Girls’ High topped the girls’ competition, followed by Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof and Paarl Gimnasium.
Curro Sport Portfolio Manager Cindy van der Merwe said the growth of the meeting was encouraging, with participation rising from more than 1,400 athletes last year to almost 2,000 this year.
She added that the records reflected both the standard of competition and the talent among the athletes, while the event continued to provide opportunities for young competitors to measure themselves against their peers and develop their abilities.
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