After two days of competition, they’ve claimed 25 golds, 16 silvers, and eleven bronze medals, bringing their total tally to 52.

Gauteng currently holds the highest overall medal count with 67 medals – comprising 22 gold, 27 silver, and 18 bronze.

Western Cape (mainstream schools) is third overall, with 19 gold, 12 silver, and 21 bronze medals.

Free State high jump. Photo: Morgan Piek

The host province, Free State, is fifth on the leaderboard, with eleven gold, eleven silver, and 15 bronze medals, totalling 34.

Highlights from Friday’s Action

There was gold for Free State in the Girls U15 High Jump, where Franzelle Barnard and Cara Rautenbach both cleared 1.64 metres, sharing first place.

Milan Swart of Gauteng also cleared 1.64m but finished third on countback. Lize Joubert, another Free State jumper, cleared the same height but narrowly missed out on a podium finish.

Rumé Burger. Photo: Morgan Piek

Record-breaking performances

Free State’s Jayden Parken claimed gold in the Boys U17 110m hurdles, breaking the national schools record twice in the process.

Rumé Burger delivered a sensational performance in the Girls U17 100m, also breaking the national schools record twice. 

Her new time of 11.43 seconds now stands as the fastest in the world for her age group. For context, Emilia Reed of Australia previously held the top time this year with 11.49 seconds, clocked on 8 March in Perth. Based on current recorded times, Burger is the fastest U18 girl sprinter in the world right now. However, as this is a Nationals Schools Championship and not an ASA Championship, these are national schools records. 

Reuben Smit of Grey College won the boys U15 100m hurdles in a record time of 12.73 seconds, and it is believed that he may just be the next big thing in athletics from the school. The 2025 South African Schools Championships wrap-up on Saturday, with more medals and records still up for grabs.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg