UJ athletes prepare for string of events in Europe
AUCKLAND PARK – Local track and field stars hope to qualify for the World Championships in Europe meetings.
Top track and field athletes from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) are heading to Europe, to show their talent at several events in the next few months.
Zarck Visser is looking to make a comeback in the long jump after a tibia fracture last season, which did not heal properly and required an operation in December.
“Long jump is my life and it felt that a part of me had been taken away, but now I am top of the world,” said Visser, who has four events lined up in Europe in the next three months. “I’m feeling 100 per cent after the operation, the recovery has been good and I have my confidence back.”
Visser hopes to perform well enough to qualify for the International Association of Athletics Federations(IAAF) World Championships London 2017 in August.
Visser won silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, as well as securing silver in 2012 and gold in the 2014 African Championships. In 2015 he placed 19th overall at the World Championships in Beijing, China.
Other UJ athletes heading to Europe are long jumpers Rushwahl Samaai and Lynique Prinsloo, and sprinter Alyssa Conley.
“Competing in Europe gives our athletes an opportunity to measure themselves against the world’s best and they are not just taking part, they are competitive as they rank among the best,” said UJ athletics head coach, Emmarie Fouché.
“This is a great opportunity for our athletes to represent UJ on a global stage and they have been doing a phenomenal job.”
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