Stellenbosch (Maties) student Justine Palframan also broke her own Varsity Athletics record by running 23.39 seconds in the women’s 200m. Tsoane Sebele and Tamzin Thomas, along with the winner, UP’s Tebogo Mamatu, all broke the Varsity Athletics record in the women’s 100 meter. In the women’s high jump, Pukke’s Julia du Plessis broke the Varsity Athletics record with 1.80 metres while Tshwane University of Technology student Erikah Seyama equalled the record at 1.75 metres. Other notable performances from other athletes came in the women’s 1 500m race in which Kesa Molotsane from the University of the Free State (Kovsie) won in a time of 4:29.65 minutes.
On the men’s side, UJ’s Tshepo Lefete broke the men’s 110 metre hurdles while running an impressive 13.92 seconds. Kovsies’s Hendrik Maartens, along with TuksSport High School athlete Clarence Munya, broke the 200 metre at 20.62 seconds.
One of the surprises of the night came from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in the men’s high jump event, as they managed to secure first and second position. First place Garth Ellis, set a new Varsity Athletics record with an impressive jump of 2.12m, and beat his teammate Blaze Thompson by 0.22 metres.
The men’s sprint relays were highly anticipated on the night and UP was expected to win the race as they normally do. However, the UJ sprinters came to silence the home team and spectators by winning the hotly contested race in a time of 46.17 seconds.
Overall, UP was expected to dominate the event with their home advantage, but other university athletes showed up and gave the home team a run for their money, with some memorable performances from individual participants in the respective events.
Photo: Michael Ridge.
