The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Athletics Club is off to a flying start in 2026. Six of the club’s elite middle-distance runners have been selected to represent South Africa at the 2026 FISU World University Championship Cross-Country, under the University Sport South Africa (USSA) banner.

The prestigious event is set to take place in Cassino, Italy, from 14–15 March 2026.

The Road to Italy

The student-athletes secured their tickets to Europe following standout performances at the USSA trials held at the University of Pretoria on Saturday, 17 January 2026. Their selection highlights UJ’s talent pool in South African collegiate athletics.

They will compete across two major categories; 3km and 10km races. Sibusiso Msibi and Mzwakhe Mashaba will compete in the men’s 3km distances while Shokane Kgopotso and Casey Bosman are the only two UJ female athletes who qualified for the 10km race. Prince Madume and Themba Thingane will also represent the country in the men’s 10km race.

Preparation Pays Off

The early-season success is no coincidence. Roger Haitengi, Manager and Coach of the UJ Athletics Club, credited the achievement to the rigorous preparation the team underwent during the off-season.

“Congratulations to the athletes for reaching this milestone,” said Haitengi. “It is very exciting to see our athletes qualify for international competitions early in the year – this shows that our December training camps paid off and set the bar for the athletes to be ready for the upcoming season.”

As the Orange Army prepares to take on the world’s best student-athletes in Italy, the rest of the Club’s student-athletes and members are currently preparing for provincial championships and league meetings.

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