Western Cape Athletes go for Gold at League Finals

On Friday, 14 December 2012, the 22-member Western Cape athletics team delivered an outstanding set of performances at the National School Sports Championship at the University of Pretoria. Having won a total of 19 gold medals, nine silver and three bronze, the team dominated the field in a variety of athletics codes.

Team Western Cape’s Keenan Michau (Best Male Athlete of the Tournament) sent waves through the crowd by winning the boys’ u17 100 m sprint in 10:49 seconds, the fastest time by an u17 100 m sprinter this year. Tamzin Thomas (Best Female Athlete, also from the Western Cape) won the girls’ u15 100 m race in a time of 11.97 seconds. Both athletes received ministerial bursaries, which were announced at the closing ceremony on Saturday, 15 November 2012.

The athletes were proud of their achievements. Michau, from Kraaifontein, said he trained hard during the year and that the gold medal had been in his sights. Thomas, from Kuils River, said “the team preparation has been good and we motivated each other to go out there and do our best. So I’m proud”.

Team manager Mr Charlie Piedt thanked everyone who rallied behind the team at the stadium. “Every athlete in the team has made us proud today. Seeing Riaan Barnard and Wikus Groenewald, who are shot put and discus throw athletes respectively, run the boys’ u15 800 m event was an inspiration to everyone”, he said. Team Western Cape’s impressive haul of medals is clear evidence that athletics is alive and growing in the province.