SPORT
UJ athletes rake in 24 gold, silver, bronze medals in 2021 USSA championships
UJ’s Athletics Club Manager, Mr Roger Haitengi, said, “We’re very happy that UJ held successful championships. It was also a heart-warming experience to have UJ listed in position 2 on the medal standings of the 2021 USSA championships. I am extremely happy for all my athletes who participated in the event, it is even better that we have received medals after the long pause of university sports during the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.” Ms Nomsa Mahlangu, Senior Director of UJ Sport, said, “Congratulations to all the athletes who participated in the USSA Championships, and a job well done to those who won medals. Thank you to all the institutions that participated, we are immensely proud of the outstanding work of all the coaches and the support of the University Management.”
medal for the 5 000 m distance run. Joining Van der Merwe on the gold medal standings were Thamsanqa Khonco (men’s 21 km distance run), Elvis Mohmomoawa (men’s 800 m and 1 500 m) and Maxime Chaumeton (5 000 m distances). Other medallists were Tshwanelo Aabobe (gold triple jump, and silver high jump), Divan Mannuel (gold in men’s long jump), and Patience Ntshingila (gold medal in women’s long jumps). Nkosinathi Sibiya (5 000 m senior men’s run), Rachel Leistra (5 000 m women’s run), Meike Strydom and Dane Roets (shotput), and Tshepo Lefete (110m hurdles) were the other athletes who added to UJ’s medal tally. UJ’s Jason van Rooyen and Leandri Geel equalled the previous South African records in the men’s senior shotput, with a 20.40 m, and 56.50 m in the women’s senior hammer throws, respectively.
University of Johannesburg (UJ) athletes dominated the first, second and third positions of the University Sport South Africa (USSA) Championships, held from 13 to 15 May 2021. UJ was ranked second on the total medal standings of the championships with 24 medals (10 gold, 7 silver and 7 bronze) in various sporting codes, including track and field, high, triple and long jumps as well as discus, hammer, and javelin. North West University led the competition with 34 medals. These were the first USSA championships, organised at the UJ Athletics Stadium, since the start of South Africa’s nationwide COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020. In the competition, UJ’s athletes dominated some sporting codes. Among the athletes was Nicole van der Merwe, who won two gold medals for the 21 km and 10 000 m runs. She also scooped a silver
Patience Ntshingila won a gold medal in the women’s long jump during the 2021 USSA Championships
Elvis Mohmomoawa won two gold medals in both the men’s 800m and 1500m distances during the 2021 USSA Championships
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