Athletes from the West Coast once again excelled at the South African Schools Athletics (SASA) National Cross Country Championships.
This event took place between Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September at the De Beers Oval Cricket Grounds in Kimberley. The Western Cape cross-country team consisted of LSEN (learners with special learning needs) and Mainstream (mainstream schools) from the Western Province, Southern Western District, Central Karoo and Boland.
The Western Cape Cross Country Team contingent consisted of around 160 athletes and 30 management members led by General Manager Christopher Rodgers, who said it was a great achievement and honour to be chosen to lead the Western Cape team.
He said the team performed excellently and showed discipline on and off the field.
“The Western Cape competed against the top athletes from all over South Africa, and especially our West Coast children, who showed they belong on the big stage, producing two South African Champions. They are Angell Pholman (girls 12 years), Kyle van der Heever (boys 17 years) and Clinton Philips (boys 11 years) with his excellent second place. It was once again proof that there are many diamonds in the rough on the West Coast who don’t let their circumstances stand in their way.”
According to Rodgers it also indicates the type of coaching they receive as well as the role athletic clubs play in their development. The icing on the cake was that the Western Cape team won trophies from both categories.
The Western Cape LSEN was named the best in South Africa and the Mainstream as the second best after the strong team from Gauteng.
The following athletes performed excellently:
Girls 10 years:
16th Ashanti Fortune: (Sederberg Primary School- Clanwilliam)
Boys 10 years:
4th Wale Witbooi (Citrusdal Primary School), 5th Luchaan Koopman (Diazville Primary School), 16th Reagon Thomas (Jurie Hayes Primary School), Justin Andrews injured (Jurie Hayes Primary School). Their team won the gold team medal.
Girls 11 years:
25th Amissa Lindert (Jurie Hayes Primary School). Their team won the silver team medal.
Boys 11 years:
2nd Clinton Phillips (Hopefield Primary School), 17th Xavier Lewis (Langebaan Primary School). Their team won the gold team medal.
Boys 12 years:
26th E-Jay Julies (Jurie Hayes Primary School), 39th Evan-Lee Berling (Langebaan Primary School).
Girls 12 years:
1st SA Champion – Angell Pholman (Langebaan Primary School). Their team won the silver team medal.
Boys 14 years:
4th Gauthvin Makatees (Nieuwoudt Primary School-Klawer), 12th Sanwill van Wyk (Langebaan Primary School).
Girls 15 years:
12th Ashali Pholman (Weston High School)
Boys 16 years: LSEN
9th Bradley Beukes (West Coast School)
Boys 17 years:
9th Divano Fallet (Weston High School)
Boys 17 years : LSEN
1st SA Champion Kyle van der Heever (Graafwater Secondary School). Their team won the gold medal.
