Athletes of the University of the Free State (UFS) were among the top junior performers in the country that finished on the podium at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Youth and Junior Championships held in Pietermaritzburg. The athletes who represented Free State Athletics (AFS) helped to inspire the province to a medal haul at the event staged over the weekend of 23 to 25 March.
The Kovsie Athletics Club brought home six medals, three gold and three silver. The AFS team finish fourth overall on the medals table with medal tally of 41. The provincial team scooped 11 gold, 15 silver and 15 bronze medals – thanks to the impressive individual performance of the athletes.
Star performers from the Kovsie improve their individual records in both track and fields’ events.
Wernich van Rensburg’s superb form saw him claim gold in the 400 m hurdles at 0:51.13 in the U20 category at Msunduzi Athletics Stadium. Johani van Tonder reigned supreme as she successfully defended her national triple jump title in the U20 category on the first day of the championship. She leaped to 12,09 m to claim a gold medal and thus flew the UFS flag high again.
Sam Dlamini continued his steady rise at the national championship in the long jump. He improved his jumping to an amazing 7,97 m and claiming a silver medal. Dlamini’s brilliant form came on the back of success to set a new Free State U20 long jump record and personal best when he jumped 7,79 m in Bloemfontein. The other individual silver was won by Molifi Mohlomi, who finished the 800 m race in in 1:49.55 in the U20 category.
Van Rensburg and Mohlomi also contributed towards the men’s team claiming a gold medal after winning the 4 x 400 m relay. Van Tonder’s versatility was in full display helping the women’s team scoop silver medals in the 4 x 100 m. – Jóhann Thormählen
