Van der Leek impressed in tough middle distance field during Curro Hazeldean Top 14
The middle-distance running during the inaugural TUT Curro Hazeldean Top 14 meeting at the Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria was something to behold.
In the 3000m race for boys u19, there were no less than six athletes that dipped under nine minutes. Xavier van der Leek (Midstream College) won the race in eight minutes and 37.59 seconds. The time would not have been enough to give Van der Leek a medal during last year’s South African Junior Championship (u20) which was won in a time of 8:19.99 by Johannes Morepe (Vorentoe).
It is however still early in the season and Van der Leek would have gained some valuable experience in this closely contested race on Wednesday. Behind Van der Leek – Kevin Hickley (Hans Moore, 8:39.07), Zane Strydom (Helpmekaar, 8:47.81), Koketso Gaborone (Tuks Sports School, 8:51.78), Divan de Vries (Affies, 8:52.78) and Lutho Timati (Curro Hazeldean, 8:59.61) all managed to dip in under nine minutes.
In the u17 race for boys, it was also a closely contested affair. Tuks Sports Schools’ Tshepang Tshivulu took the honours in eight minutes and 45.69 seconds. On his heels, Regardt Hattingh (Affies, 8:47.51) and Siya Mbeleki (8:50.04) pushed him till the end.
