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2010 – The rebuilding of VP Athletics
Following the matriculation of Susan Wells and Ayanda Foley, and the pending matriculation of Louise Pretorius and Luxolo Dlova, athletes who have served VP athletics with distinction, leading by example and flying the school’s flag high, we started the rebuilding phase of VP athletics this year. There were more juniors than seniors taking part in athletics this year and this is promising for the school. The challenge now is to retain these athletes and keep them interested in the sport.
The first athletics meeting for the learners is always the most nerve racking “Zone meeting.” We were placed with our rivals Pearson and D.F Malherbe each student knowing qualifying threw you would be running against these girls or boys again. The VP family was full of spirit applauding, respecting and cheering for each learner on the track, knowing that it’s not an easy task to do. We had a number of girls and boys that qualified to the next meeting P.E schools.
The day we competed in the PE High Schools meeting, we were allowed to come to school in our tracksuit. We felt different than the way we looked; looking relaxed and casual was not what we were feeling. Periods going by one by one, until we got the announcement “all athletes please me at the bus at the beginning of first break.” On our way there the bus was in silence, everyone was trying to focus on their event. Today was different to the zone meeting, the heat was terrible, the spirit was gone everyone was just in their own world. We were nervous trying to make the best of the day, girls in tears, full of nerves and the rest just sitting around not knowing what to do. Cheering on each person on the track, watching our fellow athletes run, while some were making a success of their races and others not so successful. VP had a few pupils going to metro schools but that was not going to stop us from making our schools name proud.
Metro schools were held at NMMU on a Saturday morning. Everyone was trying to compete to the best of their ability and hoping to go through to the Eastern Cape High Schools Champs and keeping our schools name high. A nervous day because this was somehow different to the last two meetings we had, we had heats and finals this time. Knowing that now you are running to make it for the finals on the next day. A few of us made it to the finals, but that was not a problem because we knew now we made it and made our schools name proud. FINALS!! A day of stress now knowing this race is the race to see if we are going to make it to Eastern Cape High Schools Champs or not. Our wonderful athletes competed in such a manner that words cannot even describe. Kayla Barnard at our long jump pit came 3rd in her overall event, Diego Bruiners came 4th in his 100m event with a narrow loss, Ashwin Jacobs came 3rd in his event the 200m and then Anuschka Assam had a narrow win and came 1st in her 400m event. The long day was over, some smiles were gone and some were still shining. Now the last of what we all waited for Eastern Cape High Schools Champs.
The morning was dull tears were rolling down Anuschka’s face not wanting to run this race. The time has come the last person to keep Victoria Park name up high. The race started bad with tears, shouting and a lack of confidence but after having a talk she went for it. Knowing to herself that she was not going to win this race, she ran it without giving up. The overall results for that that day Anuschka came 3rd and would not have done it without the support of her coach and fellow athletes.
That might have been the end of VP athletics but not for our athletes some have been working extremely hard to achieve their best for next year. We are all training really hard and pushing ourselves at training. We have never had a coach as good as Mr. Thoba that is willing to give up his free time to coach us. We are grateful for that and promise next year VP will have a large amount of athletes going to Eastern Cape High Schools Champs. We are PROUD TO BE VICTORIANS and representing our school, that’s why Mr. Thoba always says “Don’t quit now, suffer and live the rest of your life as a champion” and that is what we are doing every moment of everyday. On behalf of the VP athletes, I would like to thank Susan Wells, Clyde Human and Anthony Hermanus who helped coach us, they are excellent young coaches and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with them.
Anuschka Assam
FULL RESULTS:
The following athletes were placed in the top 3 at the Zone Meeting and qualified to compete at PE High Schools:
U/14:
Christine Frost – 400m & 800m
U/15:
Anuschka Assam – 400m & Long Jump
Kayla Barnard – Long Jump
Amba Holmes – Long Jump
Zenande Ndzunge – 200m
Shelby Neves – 100m
Diego Bruiners – 100m
Daniel Vissagie – 400m
Tristan Eriksson – 800m
Sarah Rautenbach – 800m
Khanyisile Mapalala – Relay
U/16:
Azola Molelengoane – High Jump & Long Jump
Kelly Walker – 100m
U/17:
Ashwin Jacobs – 100m & 200m
U/19:
Luxolo Dlova – 800m
The following athletes were placed in the top 3 at the PE High Schools Meeting and qualified to compete at the Metro High Schools meeting:
U/15:
Anuschka Assam – 400m
Kayla Barnard – Long Jump
Diego Bruiners – 100m
U/17:
Ashwin Jacobs – 100m & 200m
The following athletes were placed in the top 3 at the Metro High Schools Meeting and qualified to compete at the Eastern Cape High Schools meeting:
U/15:
Anuschka Assam – 400m
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