In a dominant performance just weeks before the University Sport South Africa (USSA) championships in Stellenbosch, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Athletics Club secured a haul of 47 medals at the Central Gauteng (CGA) Championships on March 16th, 2024. UJ athletes impressed, bringing home 15 gold, 17 silver, and 15 bronze medals at the Athletics Stadium in Westdene.
While securing these impressive results, many UJ athletes, both men and women across various categories, also achieved qualifying times for the upcoming national championships. These include the senior Athletics South Africa (ASA) championships taking place from March 21st to 24th in KwaZulu-Natal and the Under-18-23 championships in Tshwane.
Nolwazi Mashaba led the charge for UJ, claiming the first gold medal in the women’s long jump with a leap of 6.14 meters. Bophelo Seoe and Mahlatse Dombeni followed closely behind, securing silver and bronze medals respectively with jumps of 5.92 meters and 5.87 meters.
Yané van der Merwe continued her consistent form, adding a silver medal to the UJ tally in the opening women’s shotput event with a throw of 8.76 meters.
Gold medal winners (18):
| Name | Event | Distance/Height | Time |
| Martha Nkosi | High jump | 1.65m | – |
| Tshepo Lefete | Men’s 110m hurdles | – | 14.21 |
| Sabelo Dhlamini | Men’s 200m sprint | – | 21.43 |
| Sibusiso Msibi | Men’s 1500m | – | 08:47.41 |
| Katlego Nyelele | High jump | 2.05m | – |
| Karabo Sathekge | Long jump | 7.89m | – |
| Oratile Mashigo | Men’s 3000m steeplechase | – | 09:14.68 |
| Patience Ntshingila | Women’s triple jump | 12.08m | – |
| Sabelo Dhlamini | Men’s 400m hurdles | – | 50.02 |
| Kayla La Grange | Women’s 100m sprint | – | 11.92 |
| Retshidisitswe Mlenga | Men’s 100m sprint | – | 10.40 |
| Boikanyo Motlhamme | Men’s 800m | – | 1:50.06 |
| Roger Haitengi | Men’s triple jump | 15.81m | – |
| Sisanda Dumisa | Women’s 5000m | – | 18:11.73 |
| Nhlanhla Maseko | Men’s 400m | – | 0:46.83 |
“The club did incredibly well in this edition of the Central Gauteng Athletics Championships,” said Roger Haitengi, Manager and Coach of the UJ Athletics Club. “Many of our athletes have also secured qualification for the upcoming Athletics South Africa National Championships. These performances are a fantastic confidence boost heading into the University Sport South Africa (USSA) championships in Stellenbosch during the first week of April. While we’re thrilled with our success at home, our athletes need to stay focused and maintain peak physical condition to defend our 2023 title won in Bloemfontein in May.”
The UJ silver medalists (20):
| Name | Event | Distance | Time |
| Yane van der Merwe | Women’s shotput | 08.76m | – |
| Bophelo Seoe | Women’s long jump | 5.92m | – |
| Julia du Plessis | women’s high jump | 1.45m | – |
| Naeem Razak | men’s 110m hurdles | – | 14.22 |
| Jason van Rooyen | men’s shotput | 18.64m | – |
| Criselda Jenkins | Women’s discus | 40.16m | – |
| Sandra Wijtenburg | women’s 1500m | 04:47.25 | |
| Nkosinathi Sibiya | men’s 1500m | – | 03:48.42 |
| Gayisa Maswanganyi | men’s high jump | 2.05m | – |
| Johannah Sethowa | women’s 3000m steeplechase | – | 12:25.65 |
| Mahlatse Dombeni | women’s triple jump | 11.77m | – |
| Raissa Kyembo | women’s 100m | – | 12.03 |
| Cheswill Johnson | men’s 100m | – | 10.43 |
| Sanele Msomi | men’s 800m | – | 1:51.74 |
| Junior Mphefu | men’s triple jump | 14.92m | – |
| Precious Molepo | women’s 400m sprint | 54.86 | |
| Kabelo Moholobela | men’s 400m sprint | 0:46.99 |
“As UJ athletes, we were very happy and excited when we found out that this year’s provincial championship were going to be held at our home track. This is where we push ourselves every day – performing in front of our home crowd enabled us to get close and even beat our lifetime best performances as a result. For me personally, this was a great competition because I was injured just a couple of weeks ago and thought I wouldn’t be able to qualify for the National Championship. Doing it in two events is such a confidence booster, and I am very optimistic going into future event,” says Sabelo Dhlamini after winning two gold medals in the championship.
Bronze medalists:
| Name | Event | Distance | Time |
| Mahlatse Dombeni | Women’s long jump | 5.87m | – |
| Mpho Tladi | Men’s 110m hurdles | – | 14.69 |
| Yane van der Merwe | Women’s discus | 30.19m | – |
| James Emmanuel | Men’s 200m sprint | – | 21.55 |
| Nicholas Whittaker | Men’s 1500m | – | 03:50.08 |
| Yamkela Shosha | Men’s 10km | – | 52:22.71 |
| Sisanda Luphuzi | Men’s high jump | 2.0m | – |
| Khunedi Mashishi | Women’s 3000m steeplechase | – | 12:37.14 |
| Olivia Muya | Women’s triple jump | 11.72m | – |
| Oratilwe Shale | Men’s 400m hurdles | – | 53.08 |
| Malesela Senona | Men’s 100m | – | 10.66 |
| Sandra Wijtenburg | Women’s 800m |
|
2:17.61 |
| Ntuthuko Ndimande | Men’s 800m | – | 1:54.36 |
| Sisanda Luphuzi | Men’s triple jump | 14.83m | – |
| Ryan Keaton | Men’s 400m | – | 49.60 |
The results follow impressive junior CGA performances that took place in Germiston on 08 and 09 March 2024. Athletes such as Klariska van Staden, Khanyisile Thwala, Faith Mabena, Kaylee le Roux, Ntokozo Gumede, Kgopotso Shokane, Akonyi Ngongo, and Londeka Mavimbela as well as Olothando Sakwe, Rasheed Gardee, Ntandoyethu Ndaba and Lehlogonolo Lusiti represented the University well in the senior sections.
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