Port Elizabeth Primary Schools Cross Country held their glittering prizegiving function at Nelson Mandela Bay Education Cafeteria in Sidwell on Tuesday, to honour outstanding athletes for their performances during the 2023 season.
PE Primary Schools Cross Country chairperson, Melvin Dapo, told the audience that his executive committee had decided to hold the year-end awards ceremony to honour athletes who gave a good account of themselves.
“These athletes are an inspiration to other children, although they did not participate in the national champions due to some reasons. These are our shining stars that we are proud of. The purpose of these awards is to motivate and encourage mass participation,” said Dapo.
The guest speaker, Hillcrest Primary School athletics coach, Deidre Warney, highlighted that the athletes should be intuitive and should be the leaders of themselves. Warney appealed to all schools in the region to take part in cross country. Warney urged the athletes’ parents to support their children during the athletics meetings. Department of Education official, Cosmo Baartman, urged the athletes to a make difference all the time.
The awards were as the follows:
- Girls’ u/8 to u/9: Claudine Sauls and Jo-Anne Pullen (both from Hillcrest); Annique Joma (Van der Kemp); Emily Norman (Normoyle)
- Boys’ u/8 to u/9: Leechane Vuurveld (Republiek); Lushane Bosman and Juliano Bantom (both from Hillcrest)
- Girls’ u/10: Simnikiwe Jama (BJ Mnyanda); Jaylin Stuurman (Hillcrest); Ivan Morgan (Enkwenkwezini)
- Boys’ u/10: Lumko Soya (BJ Mnyanda); Ntlantla Mankazana and Azalwe Haarmans (both from WB Tshume)
- Girls’ u/11: Shekinah Lottering and Catlin Williams (both from Hillcrest); Lelam Qumza (Mboniselo)
- Boys’ u/11: Melisizwe Uithaler (Normoyle); Hlompo Ngqameni and Athabile Moolman (both from WB Tshume)
- Girls’ u/12: Ongeziwe Sinuka (WB Tshume); Lerusha Peters and Vaneshery Pentolfe (both from Hillcrest)
- Boys’ u/12: Olwethu Gxashe (Mboniselo); Limvile Mbambiso (WB Tshume); Buhle Jobo (BJ Mnyanda)
- Girls’ u/13: Indiphile Mhlalwa (WB Tshume); Sinethemba Bobby (Mboniselo)
- Boys’ u/13: Byron Booysen (Normoyle); Asithandile Cuba (BJ Mnyanda); Ahlumile Swapi (Mboniselo)
- Girls’ u/15: Aleesha Hoffman and Alexandra Lean (both from Hillcrest); Limyoli Dyibishe and Luhle Fefani (both from Mboniselo); Sibahle Nonkonyane (Enkwenkwezini); Ngqiqo Dunga (WB Tshume)
- Boys’ u/15: Siyanda Boqwana and Lukhanyiso Ntlali (both from BJ Mnyanda); Lukhanyiso Boyce (WB Tshume).
