By the time Emihle Potye arrived at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria, he had already cleared one of the hardest hurdles of the school athletics season: earning his place among the country’s leading provincial qualifiers.

The Grade 11 learner from Curro Westbrook represented the Eastern Cape at the 2026 South African National High and LSEN Schools Athletics Championships, held in May. He finished 6th in South Africa in the high jump.

The national championships bring together top school athletes from across the provinces and count among the major school athletics events in the country. For Emihle, qualification followed a provincial athletics season in which he also recorded a personal best clearance of 1.91 metres.

Technical progress in a demanding event

High jump rewards athletes with explosive power, timing, body control and the technical precision to turn a fast approach into a clean clearance. Emihle’s 1.91-metre personal best earlier in the season points to clear progress in those areas. His national result then placed him among South Africa’s leading school high jumpers in his age group.

Curro Westbrook said it was proud of Emihle’s achievement after he represented both the school and province at national level.

‘The whole Curro Westbrook family is so proud of you Emihle!!!!’

Competitions of this calibre also give young athletes exposure to stronger fields and higher performance standards. For Emihle, the 2026 season has added national championship experience to a year already marked by a personal best and provincial selection.

As he moves towards his final year of school athletics, the result gives him a strong base from which to keep developing in one of track and field’s most technical events.