Portland impresses at zonal championships

Star performer… Portland High School’s Jordan Valentine, cruising to victory in the boys’ under-14 400m race. Picture: Fuad Esack

Portland High School’s athletic squad were among a number of athletes representing 39 schools from Mitchell’s Plain, Khayelitsha, Philippi and Macassar who took part at the weekend’s False Bay Zone high schools’ championships, at Vygieskraal Stadium, in Johnson Road, Athlone.

Among Portland’s top performers were Jordan Valentine who won the boys’ under-14 100m, 200m and 400m events, while Wayden Pelston reigned supreme in the boys’ under-17 division.

Earlier this month, Portland High were crowned False Bay Zone Section A winners, ahead of Macassar’s Zandvliet High, Rocklands and joint fourth-placed finishers, Khayelitsha’s Uxolo and Westridge high schools.

Portland’s Wayden Pelston pipped rival, Westridge High’s Khalil Wingrove to the post in the boys’ under-17 400m race. Picture: Fuad Esack

Rivals on the track, best buddies off track, Portland’s Wayden Pelston and Westridge’s Khalil Wingrove share light moment following their duel in the boys’ under-17 400m race. Picture: Fuad Esack

Yaaseen Fredericks, centre, takes over from teammate Niyaaz Hart, left in the boys’ under-14 4 x 100m relay, at Saturday’s False Bay Zone championship, at Vygieskraal. Also pictured is Beacon Hill’s Fawaaz Samsodien. Picture: Fuad Esack

Portland’s Matthew Arend on his way to the finish line after clearing the second last hurdle in the boys’ under-17 steeplechase event. Picture: Fuad Esack

Portland High’s all-star under-14 4 x 100m relay squad, Abdulbasiet Maurice, Yaaseen Fredericks, Niyaaz Hart and Reese Daniels. Picture: Fuad Esack

Strandfontein High School’s Jayden Miller takes over the baton from Lyle Adonis in the boys’ under-15 relay. Picture: Fuad Esack

In the girls’ under-14 section, Logan Lee Mitchell won the 90m and 300m hurdles events as well as the 100m flat. She also helped the school secure victory in the girls’ under-15 4 x 100m relay.

Portland speedster Logan Lee Mitchell, left, takes over the baton from Fatima Stemmet to help her team cross the finish line first in the girls’ under-15 4 x 100m relay. Logan Lee also won the girls under-14 90m and 300m hurdles events as well as the 100m flat. Picture: Fuad Esack

Portland’s Celine Hurley gets away first on the third leg of the girls’ under-14 4 x 100m relay at Saturday’s False Bay Zone high schools’ athletic championships, at Vygieskraal. Picture: Fuad Esack

Portland’s Saadiqah Corbett takes off like a house in the girls’ under-17 4 x 100m race. Teammate Bianca Solomon, left, smiling as if to say, “we’ve got this”. Picture: Fuad Esack

Portland High’s under-19 4 x 100m relay team all smiles after winning their event. From left are, Saadiqah Corbett, Bianca Solomon, Asithandile Bani and Kiara Gladden. Picture: Fuad Esack

AZ Berman, Beacon Hill, Lentegeur, Princeton, Spine Road, Strandfontein, Westridge and Woodlands high schools were also among schools from the Mitchell’s Plain area who took part in Saturday’s zonal championships.

Westridge High School’s Ghusain Hendricks lets one rip during the boys’ under-19 javelin event. Picture: Fuad Esack

Beacon Hill’s Jameline Heskwa, from Colorado Park, shows good form in the boys’ under-19 javelin event. Picture: Fuad Esack

Woodlands High School’s Jovawn Pillay gears up for the first of his three allocated throws in the boys’ under-19 javelin event. Picture: Fuad Esack

Qualifying athletes are now gearing up for next month’s Western Province championships, which will be held at the same venue, where they will battle for a spot at the Western Cape championships due to be held at Paarl’s Dal Josefat Stadium on Saturday March 16.

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