World Champions at university athletics

For local athletics enthusiasts the sight of world class athletes such as Caster Semenya and Wayde van Niekerk taking to track and field during University Sport South Africa’s (Ussa) South African University Championships held at the University of Limpopo’s (UL) Oscar Mpetha stadium last weekend was sheer bliss.
Semenya, who won gold in the women’s 800 m at the 2009 World Championships did not disappoint before her home crowd. On Friday she won the 1 500 m in a time of 4:31.12 and the 400 m in 52.52. on Saturday she made short work of her specialist 800 m in 2:03.59 and won a fourth gold as member of the Northwest University’s relay team.
Two weeks ago Semenya became the first South African athlete to achieve the same feat at the South African Track and Field Championships in Stellenbosch.
World 400 m champion Van Niekerk running in University of Free State colours won both the 100 m (9.98) and 200 m (20.35).
South African 10 000 m track record holder Stephen Mokoka running for Tshwane University of Technology won the 10 000 m men’s race in 30.6.25. Dylan Cotter leapt to a new personal best in the triple jump with a winning effort of 16.26. Four hundred meter hurdler Lindsay Hanekom with a new personal best of 49.47 seconds missing the qualifying time for the Olympic Games by less than a second.

Kakata Maponyane, UL Director Sport and Recreation said they were elated to have hosted a big athletics event at their new track. “We are grateful to have hosted world champions such and Caster and Wayde at the event. We are over the moon with the fact that everything went well and people came in numbers to see their favourite athletes,” Maponyane said.
He also motioned that they are looking forward to host more athletics events at the R13 million track. “We received positive feedback from the athletes with regards to the new track. They loved it and we are looking forward to host more events here,” Maponyane said.
Semenya said she was happy to have won the races on home soil and in front of supporters who came in droves to see her in action. “The last time I ran a major event in the province was in 2009. I am glad to have won the event in front of my home crowd,” Semenya said.
A Semenya admirer, Mosima Moletja who resides at Moletjie said: “We always see her on the small screen but I must say it was good to see her on the track and winning all her events in front of her own people.”

Featured Photo: Herbert Rachuene – Caster Semenya, winner of the women’s 400, 800 and 1 500 m titles at the South African University Championships.

Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert@mailbox.co.za