Primary school athletes raise their hands for Capricorn District Athletics team

Competition was tight among athletes from the Polokwane, Pietersburg, Seshego and Maraba clusters during the Polokwane Cluster athletics meeting held at the old Peter

Mokaba Stadium last Thursday.

The young athletes who eliminated their peers at the recent Pietersburg Circuit athletics displayed their athletic prowess in the track and field events hoping to secure a spot on the Capricorn District Athletics team.

Chairperson of the Pietersburg and Polokwane Cluster Athletics, Leon Maakamedi said from the Polokwane Cluster meeting the top three athletes in field items, top two in sprint, top three in middle and long distances of each age group were chosen to form part of the Capricorn District team.

He stressed that they had selected a team of 120 athletes who will be up against teams from Moletji, Senwabarwana, Mogodumo, Zebediela and Sekgosese clusters today (Thursday) when the Capricorn District Athletics meeting takes place at the Oscar Mpetha Athletic Stadium at the University of Limpopo in Mankweng.

Maakamedi said they would have preferred to use the old Peter Mokaba Stadium for the event because it is closer to some of their athletes but that it is unavailable due to the Armed Forces Day event. “Most of our athletes are used to the track at the old Peter Mokaba, they train and have practice sessions there. The Oscar Mpetha track is also beautiful and we are confident that they will do well there.”

He added that they want to increase the number of athletes in their provincial team. “From Thursday’s (today) event we will be selecting a team that will represent Capricorn District at the provincial event. Last year 20 of our athletes made it through to the provincial team and this year we want to increase that number to at-least 50,” concluded Maakamedi.

By the time of going to press the names and the schools of the selected athletes were not yet released.

Kara Spies from Curro Heuwelkruin clears the bar at 4,21 m in the girls u.12 high jump.

Pius Ledwaba, Athletics coach at Dorothy Langa Primary School, Mosuana Phoshoko, secretary of the Polokwane Cluster and Leon Maakamedi, chairperson of Pietersburg Cluster Athletics.

Ndumiso Mabunda from Curro Heuwelkruin cleared the bar at a height of 4,17 m during the girls’ u.13 high jump.

Kedibone Matlou from Ernest Matlou Primary School finishes the u.12 girls 200 m in a time of 33,13 seconds.

Johannes Tjelele from Latlile Primary School attains a distance of 5,56 m with this throw in the boys u.13 shot put.

PHOTOS: HERBERT RACHUENE Thapelo Matshabaphala, u.12. from Boiketlo Primary School sends the shot flying for a distance of 4,55 m.

PEPPS’ Bono Neluheni attains a time of 12.05 sec in the 100 m for boys u.12.