Four Maties athletes qualified for the Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) World Student Games, following their participation in the University Sports of South Africa (USSA) Athletics Championships between 5 and 7 May. This is according to Maurice Fisher, head coach of Maties Athletics.
The FISU World Student Games will be hosted in Chengdu, China in July, said Fisher.
A total of 27 Maties athletes competed, winning a total of 9 medals between them, said Fisher. Breyton Poole, Jesse Perez, Jason October, and Jana van Schalkwyk qualified for the FISU World Student Games in China, he said.
“I’m satisfied with our team’s performance,” stated Fisher.
Breyton Poole, Jesse Perez and Tristan Faroa all took part in the 2023 University Sports of South Africa Championship last weekend, according to Maurice Fisher, head coach of Maties Athletics. The Maties Athletes brought home three of the nine medals awarded to the team at the University Sports of South Africa (USSA) Athletics Championships, as seen on the Maties Sport official Instagram page. PHOTO: Supplied/Mieke Basson
Overcoming hurdles
The team faced setbacks after heavy rain and thunderstorms caused a brief delay to the competition, said Breyton Poole, who achieved gold for the men’s high jump at the Championship.
“I was scared that I wasn’t going to be warmed up properly, which could lead to injury,” said Poole, who is doing his PGDip degree in marketing.
“We also had some unfortunate injuries at the championships,” said Fisher. However, “this is part of the sport,” he stated.
Jesse Perez sustained a hip injury at the USSA Athletics Championships, however, he still won gold in the men’s decathlon event, said Perez, who is completing his post graduate diploma in management.
Maties athletes, Breyton Poole and Jason October, qualified to compete in the Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire World Student Games at the end of July, according to Maurice Fisher, head coach at Maties Sport. PHOTO: Supplied/Andrea Cornelison
On the record
“This year, my goal was to break the championship record and to qualify for [FISU] World Student Games,” stated Perez.
Perez broke the championship record and qualified for the FISU World Student Games, he said. “I would like to qualify for [the] Olympics next year.”
Jason October, placed first in the 110 metre hurdles, he said. He attained a new personal best at the National Senior Championships in Potchefstroom earlier this year, said October. However, his confidence was shaken after not being able to finish his race at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Grand Prix in Germiston, he said. “I was hoping to use that confidence and carry it into the build up to USSA, but it didn’t go as planned,” said October.
“I am eager to gain some experience as [FISU] would be my first major international competition against the best [athletes] in the world,” said October.
A total of 27 Maties athletes were selected to compete in the 2023 University Sports of South Africa (USSA) Athletics Championship last weekend, according to Maurice Fisher, head coach of Maties Athletics. Four were selected to compete in the Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire World Student Games in China at the end of July, said Fisher. PHOTO: Jodi-Mari Adams