Stellenbosch University (SU) secured five gold medals over three days at the University Sports South Africa (USSA) athletics tournament, finishing fifth overall, according to Kimara Singh, media and communications manager at Maties Sport.
Maties Athletics competed in the 400 m women’s relay race at the end of day two of the University Sports South Africa athletics tournament. “Performance-wise, I think the weather again has not helped – it’s kind of held us back,” said Maties Athletics athlete Lara Johnson, who competed in this race. Maties sent 43 athletes to the competition in total, according to Keagan van Aarde, the club manager of Maties Athletics. PHOTO: William Brederode
The USSA tournament, which was hosted at the University of the Western Cape’s sports stadium from 5 to 7 May, was an opportunity for athletes to qualify for other tournaments, such as the Summer World University Games, according to Keagan van Aarde, the club manager of Maties Athletics.
The University of Pretoria secured twelve gold medals, the most of all the competing institutions, according to information supplied by Singh.
No raining on the parade
The Maties team’s plan was to come out and execute despite the challenging weather conditions, as it was raining through much of day two of the competition, said Jason October, a gold-medal winner for Maties Athletics in the 110 m hurdles category.
“To come out with a time which is a few split seconds away from my [personal best] – especially in this weather – I would say that’s a win,” said October. Winning a gold medal on 6 May was a “pretty good day on the track” for him, he said.
Maties Athletics had five gold medalists at the University Sports South Africa athletics tournament hosted at the University of the Western Cape’s sports stadium, according to Kimara Singh, media and communications manager at Maties Sport. Jason October, an honours student at Stellenbosch University, won a gold medal in the 110 m hurdles category. PHOTO: Supplied/Carel Stander
Ashley Smith, fellow gold medalist for Maties, won his medal in the 3 000 m steeplechase category on 5 May. While there was room for improvement in his performance, he is hoping to take the momentum from this tournament to the African Championships in Athletics and the World University Games, he stated.
“Obviously the main goal and plan is to get to World Champs in Oregon, but there’s also the Commonwealth [Games], so hopefully I might have to choose if I do get the opportunity,” said Smith.
Ashley Smith, gold-medal winning athlete in the 300 m steeplechase category in the recent University Sports South Africa athletics tournament, said that Maties athletics expected slightly better results as a team, but had had some difficulties with athletes pulling out before the tournament with niggles and injuries. PHOTO: William Brederode
Striding forward
“We’re really proud of the athletes that we brought to the tournament,” said Van Aarde about the 43 athletes that competed for Maties at the tournament this year.
The athletes that represented SU competed in track and field events which included relay races, hurdles, long jump and pole vaulting, according to Singh.
An athlete from Varsity College competing in the long jump event at the recent University Sports South Africa athletics tournament. VIDEO: William Brederode
While the Maties Athletics team has a particular weakness in the throwing categories, the “plan is to recruit strategically for our areas that lack”, stated Van Aarde. “I’m very excited for where Maties Athletics is going and the development that is going to take place in the next two years.”