The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Athletics Club reaffirmed its status as a powerhouse in South African sports this past week (16–18 April 2026), delivering a commanding performance at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Senior National Championships in Stellenbosch. Representing Central Gauteng Athletics, the UJ contingent – comprising 63 athletes across track and field disciplines – secured a total of 15 medals. The club’s impressive tally includes eight gold, one silver, and six bronze medals, spanning sprints, relays, jumps, and throwing events.
UJ athletes stood atop the podium in several marquee events, showcasing elite speed and technical precision. Key golden performances included:
Sprints (Gold):
Joviale Mbisha claimed the women’s 100m title, while Kayla La Grange dominated the women’s 200m. On the men’s side, Lythe Pillay secured gold in the 400m.
Field Events (Gold):
Thato Kgala: Men’s Triple Jump (15.60m)
Aiden Smith: Men’s Shot Put (20.51m)
Leandri Holtzhausen: Women’s Hammer Throw (67.70m)
Relays (Gold):
UJ swept the 4x100m relays. The men’s quartet (Jordan du Plessis, Siyabonga Uzoho, Martin Joubert, and Lehlogonolo Dyasi) and the women’s quartet (Kayla La Grange, Aluwani Vilankulu, Oluchi Ndubueze, and Emmarentia Germishayen) both secured national titles.
Silver and Bronze Success
While gold dominated the headlines, UJ athletes showed remarkable consistency across the board. Martha Nkosi secured UJ’s only silver medal in the Women’s High Jump with a 1.75m leap.
Not to be outdone, four individual athletes and a men’s 4x400m relay team secured bronze medals for the Orange Army. These athletes included Udeme Okon in the Men’s 400m (46.02s), Justin Louwrens in the Men’s High Jump (1.95m), Levi Fick in the Men’s Long Jump (7.32m), and Oluchi Ndubueze in the Women’s Long Jump (6.28m). The Men’s 4x400m relay team featured athletes Ditiro Mekhise, Sabelo Dhlamini, Udeme Okon, and Lythe Pillay finishing with a time of 3:07.49.
UJ Rowing finds success in Cape Town
Parallel to the track and field success, the UJ Rowing Club competed at the University Sport South Africa (USSA) Rowing Sprints in Cape Town. The team earned two bronze medals across the men’s and women’s categories, ultimately securing a prestigious second-place finish overall in the national standings.
“The consistent performance of our student-athletes and club members in this championship reflects the high-performance culture we strive for at UJ Sport. Congratulations to all the winners. Those who were a=not able to secure podium finishes, the USSA championships are an opportunity to do so,” says Roger Haitengi, Manager and Coach: UJ Athletics Club.
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