For the 21st consecutive year, Northcliff High School has won the inter-high athletics competition.
It has been a good sports year for the school as they also had a sports trifecta after winning the inter-high swimming and spirit trophy in addition to the inter-high athletics.
The school finished the inter-high athletics with a 62-point lead over Fourways High School who racked up 169 points. Hot on their heels was Bryanston High School with 141 points and in 4th place was Rand Park High School with 133 points.
Northcliff High also won the spirit trophy for the third consecutive year and might be starting a whole new tradition of wins.
The Northcliff Melville Times spoke to the head of Northcliff High’s athletics, Neil van der Walt, who was extremely relieved at the win after a year of preparation and pressure.
The win was more than just that for Van der Walt, it was a sweet victory in his attempt to build a long lasting legacy of athletics at the school as a Northcliff High School alumni.
Van der Walt was a Grade 11 athlete at the school when they first won the inter-high athletics trophy. Once he started working at his alma mater in 2006 and was made the head of athletics five years later, he led their athletes to one victory after the other.
“Taking over from the previous head was a lot of pressure. We had won the inter-high for 15 years when I took over,” Van der Walt said.
When asked what the school’s secret is, he said they train from Monday to Friday and have a pre-season training plan but above all, he said he asks for their best and nothing more.
“If they give me their best, win or lose, it’s good enough for me. You can see these athletes really enjoy being out there. They have a lot of passion.”
While one would expect a huge celebration, Van der Walt said in sport whether you win or lose, humility is key.
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