UJ’s new generation ready to step up at varsity athletics
AUCKLAND PARK – Heading up the UJ contingent will be shot-putter Johnny Botha, who heaved a season’s best of 17.29m at the Pukke Prestige Meet in Sasolburg on 19 March.
The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) new generation of track and field athletes are putting the final touches to their preparations ahead of the first of two varsity athletics meetings, which takes place in Potchefstroom on 24 March.
Due to the competition’s 25-year age limit, UJ will be without the services of their “old guard” of stars, which includes last year’s men’s shot-put silver medallist Jaco Engelbrecht, women’s long-jump winner Patience Ntshingila and African long-jump champion Zarck Visser.
According to UJ athletics manager Roger Haitengi, the institution would once again bring a very competitive squad peppered with international medallists and up-and-coming athletes.
“We have a lot of surprises in store. Although it’s still a very young squad, those who participated in last year’s event have matured and are ready to step up at this high level of competition,” he said.
Haitengi said the university was historically strong in the field, especially in the jumping and throwing events, and would once more have a lot to offer.
“Our triple-jumper Apelele Rasmeni will also definitely clear 16m soon. He was SA silver medallist three years ago and already opened his season with a leap of 15.55m.”
In the women’s discus, he said, Elizabeth Loots and last year’s runner-up Lezaan Jordaan would power the UJ team in the cage.
According to Haitengi, Maryke Brits would be an athlete to watch in the long-jump pit, having set a new personal best of 6.24m at a recent Central Gauteng Athletics meeting.
He added that Brits would also form part of the women’s 4 x 100m relay team as UJ sought to expand their influence on the track.
“Our top six men and women sprinters are looking good. On average, the men are clocking in at 10.5 seconds but the changeover will be the most critical part.”
While strong individual performances were critical to success, he said their contribution to the performance of the team as a whole was the most important thing.
The action starts at 6pm and will be televised live on DStv’s SuperSport 6 channel.
