'Next year, we are going bigger and stronger' - Voortrekker Bethlehem and Rob Ferreira crowned t+f champions

The Track+Field series came to a thrilling conclusion with Bethlehem Voortrekker Höerskool and Höerskool Rob Ferreira securing the girls' and boys' titles after two days of intense action at the University of Johannesburg Athletics Stadium. With the title of the best track and field school on the line, the finale produced fireworks as the athletes put their bodies on the line to win points for their schools.

Voortrekker's dominance was clear from the opening day. They continued with another dominant display on the final day to ultimately triumph with 739 points. Rob Ferreira added 332 points to their overnight score of 293 to take the boys' title by 625 points. While the series' aim is to crown the best athletics school in the country, co-founder Mathew Quinn said it has also given opportunities to schools that don't have strong athletics programmes.

Bethlehem Voortrekker Hoerskool of Free State were crowned 2025 girls' champions at the Track+Field High School National Final on Friday, 11 April 2025 at University of Johannesburg. Picutred with the team holding the trophy is Siviwe Gwarube, Minister of Basic Education. The winning Schools received bragging rights, the track+field trophy and a cheque for R50 000 from SuperSport. Photo Credit: Cecilia van Bers.

"For us, it's really about giving children an opportunity to compete. We've had some incredible stories of finding incredibly talented athletes in SA. If we keep building along those lines and giving these children opportunities to compete against the strong schools, we are going to see more development and talent coming through from areas that we don't normally see," Quinn told #TheTopRunner.

The final day produced some thrilling action with Voortrekker's Carice van Rooyen and Stellenbosch’s Lu-Hanro Arendse putting in some exceptional performances in their events. After her 2:07.93 in the U19 girls' 800m on day one, Van Rooyen dominated the 400m, winning in 56.68. Her closest competitor, Zoey-Ree Buys from Stellenbosch, clocked 1:04.06 for second place.

Hoerskool Stellenbosch's Lu-Hanro Arendse beat Bethlehem Voortrekker Hoerskool in the U19 boys' 1 500m race. Photo Credit: Lebogang Pita.

Arendse, who clocked 1:55.18 in the U19 boys' 800m the previous day, won a pulsating 1 500m race that concluded with a thrilling sprint down the home-straight.  After leading the first lap, Samkelo Mbeso and Tshepang Tshivula took control of the race after 800m, but the 18-year old regained his lead after the bell as the Tuks duo was passed by Voortrekker’s WJ Kruger in the last half of the race. All credit to Kruger for making it difficult for Arendse, but the tall and intimidating figure from the Boland athlete always loomed large and he was eventually victorious in 4:02.56.

At the start of the programme, Liam Jonker of Hoerskool Vryburg tossed 13.50m to win the U15 boys' shotput while Tuks' Hlumisa Ketwana and Stellies' Hannah Payne clocked 57.70 and 57.84 for first and second, respectively, in the U15 girls' 400m. Joshua Jordan of Queens College clocked a quick-fire 47.68 to win the U19 boys' one-lap dash while Rob Ferreira's Sheppard Khoza swept his competition aside with an enormous leap of 7.09 in the U19 boys' long jump.

Luleko Masina of Hoerskool Rob Ferreira competes in the U15 boys' 400m. Photo Credit: Lebogang Pita.

Selena Rocha and Ajay Sampson brought the competition to a close with sensational performances in the 100m. Rocha won the U19 girls' race in 11.78 seconds while Sampson clocked 10.60 to win the boys' event.

The series is geared towards unearthing future Olympians and while it has faced some challenges in its inaugural year, Quinn is positive that it will grow from strength to strength. "Next year, we are going bigger and stronger. We had around 30 schools per region this year. We want to get to 50 or 60 schools next year. That's the goal. Once we've got to that stage, we are going to be unstoppable," he said.