Malungane smashes records at Abrie van Staden-meeting
If his performance during the annual Abrie van Staden-meeting hosted by Hoërskool Garsfontein is anything to go by – Tiisetso Malungane (Curro Hazeldean) will break a lot of middle-distance records during the 2026 season.
Malungane produced a full 1 000 points in the 1500m according to the Athletics South Africa (ASA) points system, winning the race in 3 minutes and 52.72 seconds. This bettered the previous meeting record by more than 22 seconds.
The previous record stood behind Quinton van Huysteen of Montana’s name since 2012 at 4 minutes and 15.21 seconds.
He was pushed to the end by Bulela Mganu (Tuks Sport School), who also dipped under the previous record with a time of 3:58.05 to secure a silver medal.
In the 800m, Malungane won the race in 1 minute and 52.70 seconds to also set a new meeting record. This record was bettered by almost five seconds as the previous record of 1:57.81 stood since 2005, behind M Koekemoer of EG Jansen.
Mganu won gold in the 3 000m in a new record time of 8 minutes and 44.69 seconds.
In the sprints, Curro Hazeldean’s Funo Nemakonde won the 100m for Boys u14 in a brilliant 11.56 seconds. This is also the new meeting record.
In the 200m, he won the race in 23.39 seconds.
The hosts, Marcelle Werner (u17), also secured gold in both short sprints as he won the 100m (10.91) and 200m (21.81) in quickfire times. In the 200m, Northcliff’s John Ndlovu (21.84) almost spoiled Werner’s party.
Werner ran his time in the first heat, while Ndlovu ran his in the third and final heat of the event.
Ndlovu bagged a gold medal in the 400m for Boys u17 as he crossed the finish line in 49.02 seconds.
Another athlete to keep an eye on is Chibunna Ehirim of Curro Aurora, who won the 200m for Boys u16 in 22.12 seconds while also bagging a silver medal in the 400m in 50.85 seconds.
He was beaten in the 400m by Matimba Baloyi of Curro Hazeldean, who took gold in a meeting record time of 49.37 seconds. Baloyi also secured a first place in the 400m-hurdles as he crossed the finish line in 55.50 seconds.
In the 400m for Boys u19 Adam Motlaung (Curro Hazeldean) left his opposition behind winning in an excellent time of 47.48 seconds.
