La Rochelle 2020

 ATLETIEK

ATLETIEK 2020 Over recent years, La Rochelle Girls’ High has established itself as one of the best Athletics schools in South Africa – a truly remarkable feat considering the size of the school and the quality of competition that we are up against. This attests to the hard work and dedication of athletes and coaches alike. It also bears testimony to the unwavering support we receive from Ms Lochner, Mrs Schoeman, our coaches, the school and our parents. I feel privileged to have been part of this remarkable team and honoured to have been the 2020 Athletics Captain.

Team. Three of our athletes were named Victrix Ludorum in their respective categories: Leila van Aarde (Girls 15 Track), Elke van der Westhuizen (Girls 17 Track) and Janke Oosthuizen (Girls 19 Field). La Rochelle claimed three of the four age categories, winning ages 15, 17 and 19. La Rochelle was also crowned overall winners with a total of 448 points, with Paarl GHS in second (383 points), Bloemhof GHS in third (381 points) and Rhenish GHS in fourth (140 points) places respectively. May this friendly rivalry continue to push our athletes to great heights in the spirit of healthy sportsmanship. Met die oog op nasionale deelname, het ons atlete ook deelgeneem en uitsonderlik presteer by die Boland-Sentraal Kampioenskappe, Boland Kampioenskappe en Wes-Kaap Kampioenskappe. Brenda du Toit is by die Wes-Kaap Kampioenskappe aangewys as Beste Dogters Baanatleet vir haar prestasie in die Dogters 17 400m Hekkies. Elf Larrie- atlete is ingesluit in die Bolandspan vir deelname aan die ASA Nasionale Jeug- en Juniorkampioenskappe: Kiera-Lee Abrahams, Leila van Aarde en Robynn Ferreira (Dogters o/16); Elke van der Westhuizen, Milan Horn, Adrienne Gallop en Brenda du Toit (Dogters o/18); en Nikki Schonken, Tonet Tallie, Zoë Williams en Jamie-Leigh Oliphant (Dogters o/20). Vyf van hierdie atlete is ook opgeneem in die Boland Senior Atletiekspan vir deelname aan die ASA Nasionale Senior Kampioenskappe: Elke van der Westhuizen, Zoë Williams, Tonet Tallie, Brenda du Toit en Adrienne Gallop. Elke van der Westhuizen is ook ingesluit in die voorlopige Suid-Afrikaanse Junior Atletiekspan vir deelname aan die Wêreld Junior Atletiekkampioenskappe in Nairobi, Kenia. As gevolg van die Covid-19 pandemie, het geen van die nasionale en internasionale byeenkomste in 2020 plaasgevind nie. We are also proud of our two relay teams that were supposed to take part in the Penn Relays in the United States in April of this year. This group of athletes, together with their coach, Mr André van der Burgh, worked exceptionally hard, not only training, but also raising funds for what was supposed to be another highlight in an already exceptional Athletics season. La Rochelle Athletics made history in November 2019 by hosting the first ever La Rochelle Golf Day at the Paarl Golf Club in aid of the USA Athletics Tour. Unfortunately, the Pandemic also led to the Penn Relays being cancelled. Niemand kon voorspel dat 2020 so ’n onverwagte wending sou neem nie. In my 4M-boodskap in Februarie het ek gesê dat daar altyd dinge gaan wees wat buite ons beheer gaan wees en dat jy moet kies om eerder te fokus op dit waaroor jy wel beheer het. Alhoewel ons die aanvanklike teleurstelling moes verwerk, het die fokus stelselmatig teruggeskuif na voorbereiding. I also said that Athletics ultimately teaches you perspective and that you need to remember that the moment you remove the medal from your neck, everything starts all over again. You will enter your next race not as the winner, but as just another athlete with the ability to win. This remains true not only for individual athletes, but also for the La Rochelle Athletics Team. This team has a wealth of talent and support. Continue to work hard, stay humble and build upon the proud legacy left behind by those who came before you. Dit was ’n voorreg. En Avant !  ELKE VAN DER WESTHUIZEN (ATLETIEKKAPTEIN)

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Die jaar het afgeskop met die gr. 8-byeenkoms, waar nuwelinge hulle talent ten toon gestel het en daarna, op 20 Januarie 2020, het die jaarlikse Atletiek Interhuisbyeenkoms by Dal Josafat- stadion plaasgevind. Die nuwe spanhemde het gesorg vir ’n kleurvolle dag van Atletiek en ten spyte van die wind, kon al vier spanne spog met groot getalle deelnemers en uitsonderlike prestasies op die baan en veld. Cillié het as die 2020 wenners uit die stryd getree en De Villiers het die beker vir spangees en sang gewen. On 22 January, a small number of athletes

competed in the Puma School of Speed Meeting in Paarl and performed exceptionally well. Shortly after, on 25 January, we competed in the Stellenberg Invitational Meeting in Durbanville for the first time. La Rochelle won 19 gold, 11 silver and 9 bronze medals and walked away as the winners of the girls’ division. Suid-Afrikaanse Skole-atletiek het hierdie jaar groot omwentelinge ondergaan. Een van die opwindende nuwe toevoegings tot die atletiekkalender, is die Twizza Super School Series , waarin spanne bestaande uit 15 atlete uit twee ouderdomsgroepe, aan voorgeskrewe items deelneem om die top Atletiekskole in Suid-Afrika aan te wys. Die uitdunrondtes het reeds einde 2019 plaasgevind, waartydens Hoër Meisieskool La Rochelle se span as beste meisie-atletiekspan in die Wes-Kaap aangewys is. Op 1 Februarie 2020 het 1 125 atlete uit die 46 beste atletiekskole landwyd mekaar die stryd in Pretoria aangesê in die Twizza Super School Series Finaal. Ook hier het die Larries uitgeblink en ’n vierde plek uit die 38 finale meisiespanne behaal, met Helpmekaar in derde, Affies Meisies in tweede en Menlopark in die eerste plek onderskeidelik. One of the Athletics highlights, 4M, took place at the Coetzenburg Stadium in Stellenbosch on 18February. This event has grown into a prestigious athletics event with top athletes from the four Boland girls’ high schools competing and this year was no exception. Nine new records were set with La Rochelle being responsible for 5 of these: Kiera-Lee Abrahams (Girls 14 Long Jump), Elke van der Westhuizen (Girls 17 200m), Dané Kenny (Girls 17 Discus), Amor Nel (Girls 17 Javelin Throw) and the 4x100m Girls 17 Relay

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