Young athlete walks away with a silver at junior championships

Fifteen-year-old Qhama Nomboleko is the toast of Nlovukazi High after winning a silver medal in the 5,000 walk discipline at the Athletics SA junior track and field championships in Cape Town last week.

Nomboleko, who clocked an impressive 25.08.23 was part of a Border Athletics Association contingent who participated at the championships. Nombeleko who hails from Zola Village in Lessyeton is a Grade 9 pupil at Nlovukazi High.

The walking sensation was introduced to this unusual event by his primary school teachers and arrived at Ndlovukazi High school already showing potential for the sport.

Nomboleko is presently competing in the National High School Championships in Bloemfontein this weekend and is hoping to produce another stellar performance.

“We are very proud to have such a learner who is participating in national games representing the province. His outstanding performances will take him far,” said school principal, Andile Zumana.

The other athletes unfortunately produced a mixed bag of results in Cape Town.

Two of the athletes were placed in age categories two years above their ages.

Promising 200m sprinter, Keeziah Essop, competed in the U18 category even though she is only 15 years old.

Proud father Lee-Roy Essop said: “This was a very big stage for her, she came fifth against the best in the country; I am happy with the results even though she fell out in the heats but once again a personal best time was achieved.

“The same fate befell Joshua “Josh” Jordaan who is only 18 but competed in the U20 category against athletes who were physically more developed than him.”

Jordaan’s never let himself down, and performed well in good company, making it to the finals to finish seventh. In the semi-finals, he won his 400m heat in 47.34 seconds which was a personal best.

Uhlanga Kelepu was not placed in the pole vault as he failed in all three of his attempts. Lukhanyo Buller did not finish the 10,000m.

PHUMELELE P HLATI