GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - A beautiful day dawned as Union learners travelled by bus to Somerset East, to join the neighbouring district at the biathlon event hosted by Gill College on Saturday 21 January. Union entered a team of 14 athletes into this last league event of the season. 

It was the last chance for athletes to make the Eden Provincial Championship in Oudtshoorn in February.

Each athlete performed well on the well-maintained grass track with several personal bests being recorded. 

Union's two new boys, Tafadzwa and Benjamin Munzvenga were thrown into the deep end but gamely competed, making new friends along the way.

The swim brought challenges of its own with the pool being 30m long, however, the turns and rope finish did not daunt the team and Ben Lemke achieved a personal best, placing him first in his age category.

The u.11 girls did exceptionally well with Taylor Jacobs and Klara van Jaarsveld ending 1st and 2nd respectively.

This is a great achievement for Klara who has battled this season with a broken arm and illness.

The heroes of the day were Onika Jantjies and Luvela Makaula who bravely swam 100m for the first time displaying true grit as they faced their fear of this distance and completed the swim with wide smiles.

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