SOWLE Centre learners excel at national games

The centre’s learners attained nine medals won in athletics and indoor soccer.

October 15, 2023

Lebohang Pita 1 minute read

Matthew Hansrod and Matthew van Heerden with their silver medals.

The SOWLE Centre’s Matthew van Heerden claimed a gold medal for Gauteng in the men’s T21 long jump during the South African Sports Association for the Intellectually Impaired (SASAII) national games at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane earlier this month.

Van Heerden achieved a leap of 3.13m to clinch the gold. He also won a bronze medal in the javelin, with a personal best (PB) throw of 17.65m, while also achieving another PB in the T21 100m, cutting the tape in 15:35 to win his heat. He was also part of the province’s 4X100m relay team.

Matthew van Heerden with the gold he won in the long jump.

Matthew van Heerden receives his silver medal after Team Gauteng finished second in the futsal.

The speedster led the charge for his school, with the group returning from the competition with nine medals, all achieved in track and field and futsal.

Jessica Riley and Matthew Hansrod, taking part in the games for the first time, finished in second place in the girls’ and boys’ 1 500m walk, with Hansrod finishing in a personal record of 12:11:13.

Nondumiso Khumalo (left) and Jessica Riley (right) on the podium after finishing second and third, respectively, in the javelin.

Riley would achieve a PB in the discus with a throw of 10.13m, while Nondumiso Khumalo, who won gold in discus and javelin at the games last year, won a silver in the discus throw.

Hansrod and Van Heerden were also part of the province’s futsal team that won a silver medal. It was the duo’s first time competing in this event.

The centre’s sports journey started in 2018, with Van Heerden the only learner to qualify for the nationals. He won a gold medal in the shot put. Last year, Khumalo continued the school’s medal haul at the games with a pair of golds.

Matthew van Heerden, Nondumiso Khumalo, Jessica Riley and Matthew Hansrod with their coach, Jean Delport.

“The centre’s management, staff and parents are ecstatic and exceptionally proud of the learners who represented the school and Gauteng during the national games. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for them,” said principal Jacqui Coetzer.

“The future looks bright for all the learners at the centre. We look forward to next year when we hope to send more. It will be a year where all the age groups are allowed to compete,” Coetzer added.

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