BUCO Interhigh 2025

The region’s best athletes dominated the track and field at Rob Ferreira High School during the 75th annual BUCO Lowveld Interhigh on Saturday. Not even the heat of the Lowveld sun could outdo the sizzling stars on show on the day. Grant Venter and Marike Wasserman of Hoërskool Nelspruit won the junior victor and victrix ludorum trophies respectively, while Mthokozisi Ndlovu of Rob Ferreira was the senior victor ludorum and Syboné Hanekom of Hoërskool Lydenburg was the senior victrix ludorum. This year’s Lowveld Interhigh was truly one for the books.

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Rob Ferreira High School has reclaimed the ‘best-of-the-rest’ title at the 2025 BUCO Lowveld Interhigh, thanks to a brilliant performance on home turf on Saturday.

The Rob Ferreira athletes had their work cut out for them if they were going to leapfrog Hoërskool Lydenburg to reclaim second place, especially considering Lydenburg had beaten them by 40 points at the Sonop Interhigh in Middelburg just a week prior. But homeground advantage seemed to prove the deciding factor for the Robbies.

Hosts of this year’s event too, Rob Ferreira did not disappoint, be it on or off the track and field. The Robbies athletes collected a total of 1 600.5 points – 827.5 for the boys and 773 for the girls. This was the first time since 2022 that Rob Ferreira has beaten Lydenburg to second place.

The school’s girls were the surprise of the day, showing major improvement from last year to finish second overall, managing to edge Lydenburg by two points. This was undoubtedly the deciding factor in the battle between Rob Ferreira and Lydenburg, who have continuously battled it out to be the best of the rest over the years, behind Hoërskool Nelspruit.

There was a total of six records either equalled or improved on Saturday, four of which belonged to Rob Ferreira. Radley Johnson equalled the U15 boys’ 110m hurdles record with a time of 13.49sec. Tumisho Letsoalo was the first Rob athlete to break a record on the day, setting a new U19 boys’ 110m hurdles record in a time of 14.36sec. Then there was Katleho Mofokeng who shattered the U17 boys’ high jump record, soaring to a height of 2m to break a 36-year-old record.

Perhaps the story of the day, though, was that of Quincy Monareng. Only entered into the event as a 200m athlete in the U15s, he was disqualified for a false start in his race. But as one of the reserves in the 400m race, he was roped in when an athlete had to withdraw. Not only did Quincy fill his shoes well, he outgrew them, setting a new record in a time of 51.9sec, breaking the record that has stood since 1999.
Overall, Rob Ferreira won a total of 97 medals on the day. No fewer than 32 were gold, 30 were silver and 35 were bronze. Star hurdles athlete Mthokozisi Ndlovu had a day to remember, too, claiming gold in the 400m and 400m hurdles, as well as silver in the 110m hurdles and 200m, on his way to being named the senior victor ludorum.

Rob Ferreira also reintroduced the competitive side to the spirit, singing and cheerleader cups for the first time since 2015. They performed well here too, claiming the overall cheerleaders top prize. Janeida Tosen was named their top cheerleader.

READ MORE HERE: IN PHOTOS: BUCO Interhigh 2025 – Hoërskool Rob Ferreira

Hoërskool Nelspruit het die tradisionele en gesogte titel as die Laeveld se vriendskaplike interhoërwenner vir ’n merkwaardige 60ste keer in ’n ry gewen.

Die skool vier vanjaar sy 73ste bestaansjaar, en moes in die eerste jare na sy ontstaan die knie voor Lydenburg buig. Nadat die Nellies in 1965 vir die eerste keer die bordjies teen Lydenburg kon verhang, het die span nooit weer teruggekyk nie.

Daar was wel ’n paar benoude interhoërs waar Lydenburg en Rob Ferreira byna die knoop kon deurhak, soos in 1979 toe die punteverskil ’n skrale 23 was. Maar NHS se atletiek het van krag tot krag ontwikkel – tot die gedugte span wat in onlangse jare en tans met van die bestes vergelyk kan word.

Die Nellies se merkwaardige medaljeoes is uiteindelik met verskeie span- en individuele toekennings bekroon. Die seuns (928 punte) wen die spantrofee, en die gedugte dogterspan (977) was duidelik in ’n klas van hul eie.

Die trofee vir algehele wenners, behoort dan na ses dekades steeds aan NHS (1 906). Wat individuele toekennings betref, spog talle NHS-atlete met welverdiende trofeë.

LEES OOK: IN FOTO’s: BUCO Interhoër 2025 – Hoërskool Nelspruit

Zané Nel het die beste prestasie van die dag (algeheel) gelewer, toe sy ’n volle 907 punte vir haar pragtige afstand van 40,84 m in skyfwerp (d. 17), verdien het. Grant Venter (s. 15) is as junior victor ludorum aangewys, en Marike Wasserman het dieselfde toekenning (victrix) in die afdeling vir junior dogters ontvang.

Die beoordelaars het besluit dat Nina Prinsloo NHS se beste dirigent was. Onvergeetlike oomblikke was volop. Daar sal nog lank oor die puik tweestryd tussen Jacques Winterbach en Wiaan Grobler in die skyfwerp (s. 15) gepraat word. Dié twee seuns het die 1 kg-skyf verder as 50 m deur die lug laat trek.

Dit het herinner aan soortgelyke wedywering in die verlede, óók by die skyfwerpsirkel, toe Frans Schutte en Jaco Bischoff (toe o. 15) mekaar tot rekordafstande aangespoor het. Of die tweestryd tussen Naas Marais en Henco Pieters, nóg twee van NHS se worpe-sterre van destyds.

Ander Nellies wat vir hulle spogvertonings beloon is:

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  Jacques Winterbach (s. 15): junior seuns, worpe • Dirk-Arnold Joubert (s. 17): senior seuns, worpe • Henru Herbst (s. 17): senior seuns, langafstande • Chenade Botma (d. 15): junior dogters, naellope • Zoë Cilliers (d. 17): senior dogters, naellope • Azelle du Preez (d. 19): senior dogters, hekkies • Minke Badenhorst (d. 15): junior dogters, spronge • Mia du Preez (d. 15): junior dogters, worpe • Zané Nel (d. 17): senior dogters, worpe • Zoë Janse van Vuuren (d. 15): junior dogters, langafstande • Leney Maree (d. 19): senior dogters, langafstande, alhoewel sy nog o. 15 is.

Punte van 800 of meer word aangedui:

Goud (seuns) • Bernard Calitz (s. 14): 200 m – 24;75 sek. en verspring – 5,52 m • Ihvan Pretorius (s. 14): 800 m – 02:10;13 en 1 500 m – 04:39;12 • Janco Wendelstadt (s. 14): skyfwerp – 39,52 m • Aflos (s. 14): 49;00 • Jacques Winterbach (s. 15): gewigstoot – 15,64 m (867) en skyfwerp – 50,95 m (851) • Erenst Zeelie (s. 15): spiesgooi – 49,37 m • Aflos (s. 15): 46;65 • Aldo van Jaarsveld (s. 16): 110 m-hekkies – 15;26 en verspring – 6,37 m • Robroy McGregor (s. 16): gewigstoot – 14,36 m • Menzi Shiba (s. 17): 110 m-hekkies – 14;32, 400 m-hekkies – 55;30 en verspring 6,71 m • Lian Antunes (s. 17): 100 m – 11;07 • Henru Herbst (s. 17): 3 000 m – 09:41;30 • Owen Ngwenya (s. 17): driesprong – 14,15 m (817) • Dirk-Arnold Joubert (s. 17): skyfwerp – 48,68 m (841) • Vian Louw (s. 17): gewigstoot – 14,39 m • Rian Botha (s. 17): spiesgooi – 58,50 m • Anele Mkhonto (s. 19): 800 m – 01:58,58, 1 500 m – 04:23;52 en 3 000 m – 09:35;91 • Divan de Kock (s. 19): gewigstoot – 12,51 m en skyfwerp – 41 m • Jaco Bouwer (s. 19): spiesgooi – 48,12 m.

Goud (dogters)

• Zoë Janse van Vuuren (d. 14): 800 m – 02:25;23 en 1 500 m – 05:01; • Annie Bester (d. 14): 400 m – 01:04;60 • Jess Badenhorst (d. 14): 90 m-hekkies – 14;40 • Elizabeth du Toit (d. 14): verspring – 4,69 m • Kiara Grobler (d. 14): gewigstoot – 10,45 m • Inneke van Heerden (d. 14): skyfwerp – 30,02 m • Isabel Oosthuizen (d. 14): spiesgooi – 27,47 m • Aflos (d. 14): 53;01 • Chenade Botma (d. 15): 100 m – 12;59, 200 m – 26;84 en 400 m – 01:03;47 • Leney Maree (d. 15): 800 m – 02:28;85 en 1 500 m – 05:02;93 • Mia du Preez (d. 15): gewigstoot – 12,09 m en skyfwerp – 33,35 m • Minke Badenhorst (d. 15): hoogspring – 1,50 m • Riëtte Botha (d. 15): verspring – 4,70 m • Aflos (d. 15): 51;22 * Interhoërrekord • Quinet Swart (d. 16): 400 m – 01:05;67, 100 m-hekkies – 16.76 en 400 m-hekkies – 01:10;56 • Mieke Pauer (d. 16): 800 m – 02:33;00 • Jessica Matthysen (d. 16): 1 500 m – 05:30;14 • Diané van der Walt (d. 16): skyfwerp – 31,53 m • Anebelle Badenhorst (d. 16): spiesgooi – 26,49 m • Aflos (d. 16): 53;13 • Zané Nel (d. 17): gewigstoot – 13,04 m en skyfwerp – 40,84 m • Zoë Cilliers (d. 17): 100 m – 12;30 en 200 m – 26;13 *Interhoërrekord • Kaycee Fincham (d. 17): 800 m – 02:27;12 en 1 500 m – 05:09;37 • Jessica Nel (d. 17): hoogspring – 1,55 m • Levandi Hough (d. 17): verspring – 5,06 m • Vicky Jansen van Vuuren (d. 17): spiesgooi – 32,89 m • Aflos (d. 17): 51;87 • Michelle Groenewald (d. 19): 100 m – 12;76, 200 m – 26;47 en 100 m-hekkies – 15;86 • Shebba Sithole (d. 19): 800 m – 02:33;70 en 1 500 m – 05:15,22 • Azelle du Preez (d. 19): 400 m – 01:03;41 en 400 m-hekkies – 01:06;02 • Liemoni Joubert (d. 19): verspring – 4,97 m, ook driesprong – 10,77 m • Elizma de Villiers (d. 19): hoogspring – 1,50 m • Aflos (d. 19): 51,52.

Silwer- en bronsmedaljes sal op lowvelder.co.za gepubliseer word.

LEES OOK: IN FOTO’s: BUCO Interhoër 2025: Toeskouers se gees loop hoog

Lowveld Interhigh, Rob Ferreira High School, produced an excellent showcase of Lowveld athletics talent that will be hard to forget.

After what was a special event at Barberton High School in 2024, Rob Ferreira knew they had to step it up a notch as hosts this year.

Further to this, it was also the 75th hosting of the Lowveld Interhigh, which was started all the way back in 1950, adding even more pressure to the hosts this year. But, they did not buckle, and instead put together a spectacle that very few Lowvelders will forget.

The weather during the week preceding the meet didn’t make things any easier for Rob Ferreira either, as rain poured down almost every single day.

However, thanks to some reprieve the day before, as well as on the day, things were able to run as smooth as a drop of rain off a duck’s back.

Rob Ferreira brought a few special elements to the table this year to spice up the offering laid down before spectators. They welcomed back four former Lowveld athletes who have all earned SA colours for their respective athletics disciplines.

These were former Rob Ferreira athletes, Xolani Lekhuleni (discus) and Nhlanhla Masekho (400m), old Hoërskool Nelspruit learner, Zander van der Merwe, (javelin), and former Barberton High School learner and now teacher at the school, Raymond Smit (shotput).

An addition to this year’s Lowveld Interhigh was the return of the Spirit Trophy, which was a competitive part of the event for the first time since 2015, ending a 10- year hiatus.

Then there was arguably the most alluring carrot being dangled in front of the athletes – the chance to qualify for the ASA Age Groups Championships.

This marked the first ever time that athletes could use the Lowveld Interhigh as a means to qualify for the championships. The action was broadcast live too, so people all around the country could enjoy the best the Lowveld has to offer.

Proving themselves worthy of being broadcast, the athletes put on the ultimate show and fought tooth and nail for honours. When they weren’t being entertained by the athletics action, spectators could enjoy interactive entertainment or revel in the brilliant spirit teams that the schools put together.

The meet even received a visit from the Barberton High School class of 1975. that celebrated their 50-year reunion this year. This included the oldest record-holder at the Lowveld Interhigh, Marna de Villiers (now Van den Burgh), whose record in the U19 girls’ 200m remains intact for another year.

Hoërskool Nelspruit added their 60th overall triumph to the trophy cabinet, but it was not without breaking a sweat as Rob Ferreira and Hoërskool Lydenburg made the Nellies work hard for their win this year.

All in all it was a perfect and spectacular day of athletics, spirit, fun and competition at Rob Ferreira. Lowveld High School takes over the baton next year, and will have some high expectations to live up to.

Athletes who qualified for the ASA Age Groups Championships:

 Hoërskool Nelspruit

• Grant Venter (U15 boys) – 300m hurdles • Minke Badenhorst (U15 girls) – high jump • Jacques Winterbach (U15 boys) – discus, shotput • Wiaan Grobler (U15 boys) – discus • Menzi Shiba (U17 boys) – long jump, 400m hurdles, 110m hurdles • Owen Ngwenya (U17 boys) – triple jump • Zoë Cilliers (U17 girls) – 100m • Zané Nel (U17 girls) – discus, shotput • Dirk-Arnold Joubert (U17 boys) – discus • Jessica Nel (U17 girls) – high jump • Rian Botha (U17 boys) – javelin • Henru Herbst (U17 boys) – 1 500m • Joshua Neytzell-Dewilde (U17 boys) 1 500m • Jordan Pretorius (U19 boys) – long jump • Anele Mkhonto (U19 boys) – 800m.

Hoërskool Rob Ferreira

• Quincy Monareng (U15 boys) – 400m • Radley Johnston (U15 boys) – 100m hurdles • Lesego Mashego (U15 boys) – 300m hurdles • Lizwe Mkhumane (U17 boys) – 110m hurdles • Katleho Mofokeng (U17 boys) – high jump • Tumisho Letsoalo (U19 boys) – 110m hurdles • Mthokozisi Ndlovu (U19 boys) – 400m, 400m hurdles • Shapard Khoza (U19 boys) – long jump.

Hoërskoool Lydenburg

• Liané van Zyl (U17 girls) – triple jump • Syboné Hanekom (U17 girls) – 400m • Nqaba Mkhize (U17 boys) – triple jump • Bontle Nyalunga (U17 boys) – 800m, 1 500m.

Penryn

• Luyanda Mbatha (U16 girls) – high jump

0.17 atleet Syboné Hanekom het Hoërskool Lydenburg se naam hoog gehou deur vier medaljes en die senior victorix ludorum trofee tydens vanjaar se Laeveld Interhoër te verower.

Syboné het in die 100 m-, 200 m-, 400 m- e

n 400 m-hekkieswedlope meegeding. Sy het goue medaljes in die 400 m en 400 m-hekkies ingepalm, en silwer medaljes in die 100 m- en 200m naellope.

Met 2 447 punte het sy die welverdiende senior victrix ludorum trofee ontvang. Hoërskool Lydenburg se atlete het oor die algemeen goed gevaar. Beide die dogter- (771 punte) en seunspanne (711,5 punte) het derde geëindig, om te sorg dat dié skool ’n algehele derde plek losslaan met ’n totaal van 1 482,5 punte.

Die atlete het ’n totaal van 70 medaljes ontvang – 17 goud, 21 silwer en 32 brons. Liané van Zyl was as die beste senior dogter in spronge gekroon, nadat sy ’n goue medalje en 783 ASApunte in die dogters o. 17 driesprong verower het. Verder was Giann Wessels die beste junior seun in die langafstande, te dank aan sy oorwinning en 718 punte in die o. 15’s se 1 500 m.

Lydies atlete wat goue medaljes ontvang het:

• Katlego Masola (d. 14) – 300 m-hekkies, 49;94 sek. • Giann Wessels (s. 15) – 1 500 m, 04:34;59 • Paul Schaeffer (s. 15) – hoogspring, 1,65 m • Janie van Wyk (d. 15) – spiesgooi, 31,79 m • Ruben Roeloffze (s. 16) – 1 500 m, 04:30;21 • Mohau Nonyane (d. 16) – gewigstoot, 11,56 m • Wiets Meyer (s. 16) – spiesgooi, 41,89 m • Neville Mogane (s. 16) – 200 m, 22;93 sek. en 400 m, 51;17 sek. • Bontle Nyalunga (s. 17) – 800 m, 01:58;24 en 1 500 m, 04:19.47 • Isabel van der Merwe (d. 17) – 100 m-hekkies, 16;19 sek. • Liané van Zyl (d. 17) – driesprong, 11,34 m • Syboné Hanekom (d. 17) – 400 m, 01:00;20; 400 m-hekkies, 01:08;27 • Brandon Pullinger (s. 19).

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Hoërskool Bergvlam finished in fourth place at the 2025 BUCO Lowveld Interhigh at Hoërskool Rob Ferreira on Saturday.

The Vlammies ended the day with a whopping 1 054.5 points. Bergvlam’s spirit shone bright with the school winning the procession trophy. Sibusiso Nkalanga won the gold medal in the U16 boys’ 800m in 02:08.96. He also earned a silver medal in the 1 500m.

Sisanda Gwambe had no shortage of the famous Vlammies’ heat, winning four medals. She claimed silver in the U16 girls’ 400m, 800m and 1 500m, and bronze in the U19 3 000m.

Bergvlam won a total of 24 medals – one gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze.

ALSO READ: IN PHOTOS: BUCO Interhigh 2025 – Hoërskool Bergvlam

Penryn College’s U16 superstar, Katelyn Kotze, won three gold and one silver medal at the 2025 BUCO Lowveld Interhigh at Rob Ferreira on Saturday.

Katelyn dominated the long jump, winning the gold medal with 5.08m. She took first place in the 100m in 13:08sec, and gold in the 200m in 27:69sec. Penryn made it a 1-2 in the girls’ U16 100m, with Nkosazane Jele taking gold with a time of 13:53sec.

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Katelyn and Nkosazane then teamed up with Naledi Nkoana and Luyanda Mbatha for the 4x100m relay and claimed silver in a time of 53:29sec. In the U14 boys’ 100m, Lerako Mokotedi sprinted to gold in 11:87sec. He also ran to bronze in the 200m and leapt to third place in the long jump. Newton Ojo froze the stopwatch on 11:21sec to take first place in the boys’ U16 100m.

Luyanda won the U16 girls’ high jump, taking the gold with a height of 1.60m, and qualifying for the ASA Age Group Championships.

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Penryn College won six gold, three silver and five bronze medals for a tally of 15. The school finished sixth overall with 814 points. Penryn also took home the Percentage Trophy

ALSO READ: IN PHOTOS: BUCO Interhigh 2025 – Penryn College

Barberton High School’s (BHS) head of sport, Johan Theron, congratulated his learners on a job well done at the 75th BUCO Lowveld Interhigh.

“I think the kids enjoyed it and they all did their best, so well done BHS!” he said.

Theron said the team talk in the run-up to the event was all about striving to go one better than usual, or to deliver a personal best in your own item. He explained earlier in the season the school sent their top athletes to a top 10 athletics meet in preparation for Interhigh.

“It’s good to see there are top achievers who consistently enjoy athletics and do well in their items,” said Theron.

He highlighted a few standout performances when the school earned its seven bronze medals (see list below), including a bronze in the highly anticipated boys’ U19 4x100m relay. The boys’ U17 sprinter, Safeer Mohamad, said he thoroughly enjoyed the 100m and 200m events. He also participated in the 4x100m and 5x100m relay events. “It was fun [for spectators] to watch because of the way the athletes showcased their talent,” he said after participating in a thrilling 5x100m relay in which BHS finished third.

This event’s teams are made up of the fastest runner to come out of each age group in an all-out go-for-broke race one and a quarter times around the track. Here BHS’s 14-year-olds took an early lead out the blocks, setting the team up for a well-deserved third place finish. Mohamad also commended Rob Ferreira High School for an exceptionally well-run event.

“One of the highlights for me was the co-ordination with the teachers and how they decorated everything – it was very nice,” he said.

About BHS’s team spirit and cheerleading, Theron was full of praise.

“I told the song teacher I thought they did very well today and I’m proud of them. That also gives you an idea of the school’s gees,” Theron said.

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While BHS finished seventh overall, Theron highlighted the importance of the learners having fun and enjoying the experience. A definite highlight of the day was the BHS Matric Class of 1975 making a guest appearance at the same track where they participated in the 25th Lowveld Interhigh no less than 50 years ago. Back then it was still a dirt track – a stark comparison to the lush green, manicured track Rob Ferreira High School boasts today.

Medals: (all bronze)

• Boys’ U19 4x400m • Boys’ U16 400m – Icorne Ntshangwane • Boys’ U19 triple jump – Siphesihle Mkhabela • Boys’ U17 high jump – Thabang Nkosi • Boys’ U16 1500m – Siyanda Ndubazi • Girls’ U14 discuss – Nhlelo Nkosi • Girls’ U14 shot put – Nhlelo Nkosi.

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