Local athletes conquer championships

Local athletes Christelle Grobler and Clarissa Le Roux have qualified to compete in the 2017 National School Athletics Championships.

The championships will be held from March 23 to 25 and from March 28 to April 1, in Potchefstroom and Durban, respectively.

This was after they took part in the Central Gauteng Primary and Secondary Schools Athletics Championships.

Le Roux took part in the Gauteng Primary Schools Athletics Championships that were held on March 3 and 4, in Pretoria, while Grobler took part in the Gauteng Secondary Schools Athletics Championships that were held on March 10 and 11 at Germiston Stadium.

The athletes represented Ekurhuleni North in both shot put and discus.

Le Roux’s distance of 41,65m with a 0,75g discus broke the girls’ u-13 record of 40,24m.

Grobler broke the girls’ u-15 record of 38,55m when she threw a distance of 39,50m with a 1kg discus.

Homestead resident Le Roux managed to record a distance of 12,15m in shot put and was crowned the 2017 u-13 shot put and discus champion.

Grobler, a Solheim resident, recorded a distance of 13,98m in shot put and was ranked in the Top 20 Best Female Performers, between the age groups 14 to 19, at the championships for both her shot put and discus events.

The youngster received over 900 Athletics Performance Evaluation (APE) points for discus and shot put, respectively.

Grobler’s father, Pieter, is the youngsters’ coach and he stated that the athletes’ performances on the field are a result of hard work in perfecting strength, agility and technique.

“Although it is sometimes hard for them to reach their goals, both athletes are motivated and have a positive mindset,” he said.

“I am extremely proud of both of them as both have suffered minor injuries this season but still managed to perform extremely well and it shows that every setback is a setup for a comeback, as one can always come out stronger than before.”

Pieter also said that it is Grobler’s sixth year competing at national level and Le Roux’s second.

“Both athletes made podium at nationals the previous year and they are looking forward to competing at the national championships soon,” he said.

Also read:

Talent takes to the track and field

CGA Youth and Junior Championships thrill