Pukke’s athletes are kings at USSA Championships once again

The Pukke are once again the undisputed champions of University Athletics after a dominating display at the USSA (University Sports South Africa) Championships that were held at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town from 28-29 April.

It was a committed, determined team effort from the Pukke who took their second title in succession, with stars such as Caster Semenya, Pieter Conradie, Rantso Mokopane and Julia du Plessis once again shining brighter than their varsity challengers.

Pukke took home 33 medals that included 13 gold, 14 silver and 6 bronze. Since 1994, the Pukke have been the overall winners for an amazing 12 times, with the women taking the title for the 11th time and the men for the 12th time.
Tuks and UJ boasted some stiff competition in the form of Thando Roto (Tuks) and Rushwahl Samaai (UJ) among others, but Pukke stood firm to stand on the top of the podium after two exciting days of action.

Mokopane was one of Pukke’s best athletes and the middle and long distance specialist continued where he left off at the SA Senior Athletics Championships, with gold in the 3 000-metre steeplechase (8:51.23) and gold in the 1 500 metres (3:38.83) as well.
Mpho Links was another youngster who showed his class with a 2.22-metre jump in the men’s high jump event that was enough to bag gold for Pukke.

Pukke also dominated in the hammer throw with Tshepang Makhethe (66.82), Alan Cumming (64.44) and Karel Haasbroek (63.51) taking gold, silver and bronze for a clean sweep. Pukke’s javelin throwers, Johan Grobler (73.94), Leon Laubser (72.75), and Erich Wiese (70.98) did the same.

Semenya completed a trio of gold medals with wins in the 400, 800 and 1 500 metres respectively, giving Pukke another big push towards victory. Jo-Ané van Dyk also took gold in the javelin with a throw of 52.68, beating her Pukke compatriots, Megan Wilke and Tazmin Brits.

‘Everyone is really proud of this win. It was a great team effort’ said Terseus Liebenberg, NWU-Pukke athletics manager.

Fifteen athletes from the NWU-Pukke athletics club were also chosen for the provisional USSA FISU Universiade team:

Men:

Chederick van Wyk (relay), Pieter Conradie (400 m, relay), Henco Uys (800 m)
Rantso Mokopane (1 500 m, 3 000 m steeplechase)
Mpho Links (high jump)
Tshepang Makhete (hammer throw)
Johann Grobler (javelin)
Leon Laubser (javelin).

Women:

Lente Pieterse (relay)
Ariane Nel (200 m, relay)
Caster Semenya (400 m, 800 m, 1 500 m, relay)
Letitia Janse van Vuuren (hammer throw)
Jo-Ané van Dyk (javelin) Julia du Plessis (high jump) and Shirilene Gelderblom (5 000 m).