Hoërskool Rob Ferreira’s athletes represented their province in two of the country’s top athletics meets for high school learners, showing exactly what Mpumalanga is made of.
Household names on the school’s results lists, like Caitlin Dehrmann, Erin Merensky and Gabriel Kunene, were only some among the group of 16 who competed in Athletics South Africa’s (ASA) U16, U18 and U20 national track and field championships that took place in Pietermaritzburg from March 23 to 25, and ASA’s high school national champs in Germiston from April 2 to 5.
At the BUCO Lowveld Interhigh earlier this year, Rob Ferreira ended third out of the seven schools, however, their athletes’ achievements only started there.
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In Pietermaritzburg, the Msunduzi Atletics stadium lit up with South Africa’s best track and field athletes, showing what they worked hard for the whole season. Rob’s golden girl, Caitlin, did what she does best when she secured a silver medal in the girls 20 high jump item, gliding over with a height of 1.7m.
However, it was Rob’s sprinters who shone for the Mpumalanga team with the relay baton in hand. Three of the four boys of the U16 relay team, were made up of Rob athletes. Mahlori Ntimbane, Katleho Mofokeng and Matimba Ndawe ran in both the 4x100m and medley relays for their age group. Their team claimed gold in the 4x100m, crossing the finish line with a brilliant time of 43.65. They ended second in the medley relay, 02:04:60. A medley relay totals up to a 1 000m run, the first athlete running 100m, the second 200m, third 300m and the final athlete 400m.
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In Gauteng, at the national high school champs, the relay races were once again the stand-out items for the Robbies athletes. Lizwe Mkhumane formed part of the boys 15 relay team and contested in the 4x100m race. He helped his team bag a second place. Mahlori, Katleho and Matimba are a trio any school dreams to have in their relay teams, and proved this once again when they stopped the stopwatches at 44.1. This was 0.45 slower than their time in the previous meet in March.
They participated in the medley relay once more and ended one spot lower on this occasion.
Nsovo Ntlemo ran in the girls 18 4x100m relay race and received a bronze medal along with her team.
The boys 19 relay team of Rob Ferreira have been causing some waves on the track, especially when they beat their rivals, Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool, at a friendly meet hosted by Hoërskool Nelspruit on January 29. They managed the same outcome in 2019 as well. Gabriel is part of the group of four who kicked up dust for the school. He competed for the Mpumalanga team in the 4x100m relay, and retook the podium place he is known for. Gabriel and the team ran to victory with a brilliant time of 41.72.
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Caitlin also picked up her performance where she left off and secured yet another silver in the girls 19 high jump, only this time with a slightly lower height of 1.65m.
Rob’s athletes won 17 medals in total (four gold, eight silver and five bronze) at these respective meets, delivering 22 top-10 positions.
The Mpumalanga team finished third at this year’s ASA national high school championships.
