The newly refurbished sports grounds at the University of Mpumalanga Sport and Recreation recently made history by hosting the University Sport South Africa Cross Country for the first time this past weekend.
The purpose of the event was to select a squad for the World University Cross-Country in Morocco in 2020.
A provincial squad of two runners, Sibusiso Mhlanga and Alton Mahlangu, were among 300+ athletes who represented 15 universities from across the country. Visibly, the blistering heat on both Friday and Saturday took its toll on the runners who meandered through orchards adjacent to the university’s sports fields where the race started and ended.
Distances included four kilometres, two kilometres and 10 for the more serious runners. Some of the top universities at the meet were Pukke, TUT and Tukkies.
“Thumbs up to the sport and recreation team at the university, The Department of Infrastructure, marketing as well as Redicure Ambulances services, who came to the rescue when students went down with injuries,” said Welhemina Manamela, manager of sport and recreation at the university.
