Three University of Johannesburg (UJ) student-athletes, Sisanda Dumisa, Chris Mhlanga and Lebogang Ramela, scooped two silver and a bronze medals at the 2022 Athletics South Africa (ASA) Cross Country Championships in Rustenburg on 17 September 2022.
Mhlanga took second place in the Under-23 men’s senior 4km run. Dumisa, who joined UJ athletics in 2020 finished in second place in the under-23 women’s 4km race.
“This win means a lot to me even though I was expecting to win a gold medal. I was in a good shape to come back with it, but because of my injury I couldn’t. I didn’t want to consider who I was running with to ease my nerves, I just wanted to run my own race,” explained the third-year Transportation Management diploma student.
Ramela took the bronze medal in the senior women’s 2km race. The Advanced Diploma in Business Management student joined UJ athletics in 2018 and has been part of the Central Gauteng Athletics team since 2012.
“It was incredibly meaningful for me to win a bronze medal at nationals because it made me realize the potential and the ability I have to go for gold next year. It has improved my self-confidence in terms of competition and has brought back the most important thing I’ve been missing in the past years; the hunger to perform at my level optimum best,” said the 800m and 1500m specialist.
