On 11 June 2014, the names of eight Kovsies were called out along with our country’s finest athletes. The list of names makes up the South African team that will compete at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Officially called the XX Commonwealth Games, this global multi-sport event will take place from 23 July to 3 August 2014.

Our Kovsie students and alumni will participate in the netball, badminton and athletic selections.

Current students heading for Glascow next month are:

• Wayde van Niekerk – track athlete,
• Karla Mostert – netball player, and
• Elmé de Villiers and Sandra le Grange – badminton players.

Our Kovsie alumni included in the team are:

• Maryka Holtzhausen and Adele Niemand – netball players,
• Wiaan Viljoen – badminton player, and
• Johan Cronje – track athlete.

In addition, Wayde van Niekerk made history over this past long weekend. Competing at the Diamond League in New York, he smashed the SA record in the men’s 400m sprint. A record that went unbeaten for 15 years. The national mark was originally set at 44.59 seconds by Arnaud Malherbe in Roodepoort in March 1999. Hendrik Mokganyetsi equalled the record in Yokohama during September 2000.

Van Niekerk now sets the new SA record at 44.38 seconds. He placed second over-all in the New York race.