UJ hurdles runner breaks university record

University of Johannesburg, 110m hurdler, Tshepo Lefete bagged maximum points for his university, destroying the field and crossing the line in 00:13:72 breaking the university record in his class. Lefete was closely followed by Ian Smit from Tuks who had to to settle for second place clocking 00:14:00.

Lefete was running at the first leg of the two Varsity Athletics Meetings on 18 March at UJ Stadium in Auckland Park.

Lefete (24) who hails from the Free State said that he tried his best to run a clean race and that he was running each race to inch closer to the Rio Olympics, which will be held in August.

“I am happy that I was able to break the university record. Any athlete wants to be at their best for each race they run. I will just have to be patient with myself in order to insure that I keep the goal in mind at all times,” Lefete said.

Hendriks Martins from the University of the Free State, took home first place for the men’s 200m closing the gap with a 00:13:72 and said that it was dedication and focus that helped him win.

“Each race that I run, I run to qualify for the Rio Olympics and I am sure that if I keep going I will get there but only time will tell,” Martins said.

Justine Palframan won the women’s 200m race in 00: 23: 65. The 400m 2015 Summer Universiade gold medalist said that she had a slow start to her race but made sure to pick up towards the end.

Caster Semenya decimated the field while running the 800m race in a time of 00: 52: 45 for the University of the North West. In the women’s 100m, Tebogo Mamatu from the University of Pretoria blitzed the field and clocked 00:11:63 to break the previous Varsity Athletics Record of 00:11:71 for the women’s 100m race.

While Akani Simbine did not threaten his own record of 00: 09: 96, he showed why he is at the top of his game in the short sprints. He ran the 100m race in 00:10:18 and earned the University of Pretoria (Tuks), full points.

Contact Details: Varsity Sports: 021 418 7646.