Pillay, Rooskrantz named UJ Sport Stars of the Year 2024

November 4, 2024

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The University of Johannesburg (UJ) recently celebrated its outstanding student-athletes at the annual UJ Sport Awards. This year’s event was marked by a strong showing of new talent, with several first-time nominees making their mark.

Emerging athletics track star, Lythe Pillay, and talented gymnast, Caitlin Rooskrantz, were named the 2024 UJ Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, respectively, at the UJ Sport Gala hosted at the Houghton Golf Club on Friday, 1 November 2024. This year, Pillay was an outstanding student-athlete, winning a gold medal in the 400m race at the national athletics championship in Pietermaritzburg and a silver medal with Team South Africa’s men’s 4x400m relay in the Bahamas.

Caitlin Rooskrantz and Lythe Pillay won the coveted 2024 UJ Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year Awards

Rooskrantz also had a stellar showing in gymnastics in various world events following her qualification to represent South Africa in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. At the Paralympics opening ceremony, Rooskrantz was the co-flagbearer. The third-year BCom Marketing Management student was one of the current UJ student-athletes who competed in the Paris Olympic Games, her second appearance after 2021 in Tokyo.

She competed in the 2024 National Championships in Tshwane, winning a gold medal on Bar and Beam as well as finishing 2nd overall.

In October 2023 in the World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Rooskrantz qualified to represent South Africa in the Paris 2024 Olympics. In the Olympics, she placed 25th on Bar and unfortunately did not finish in other events due to an injury incurred while performing a floor somersault. She competed in five international competitions in France, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Belgium.

Pillay is a Second-Year BCom Accounting student. He competed in three international competitions, including the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Diamond League in Monaco and World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas. At the Olympics, Pillay finished 20th overall in 400m Senior Men’s race with a time of 45.24 seconds and in 5th place with Team South Africa’s 4x400m Senior Men’s Relay Team in 2:58 minutes.

Before heading to Paris, he won a silver medal with Team South Africa in the 4x400m in the World Relays, thus qualifying for the Olympics in this category.

Pillay also won two gold medals in separate events in South Africa; In the 400m ASA Under-23 National and the ASA Senior National Championships in Tshwane and Pietermaritzburg, with a time of 45.13 seconds and 44.31 seconds, respectively.

Student-Athlete of the Year:

First-year student, Diodivine Mkhize, walked away with the Student-Athlete of the Year award. This award honours student athletes who excel both academically and in their respective sporting code. Mkhize is a dedicated and ambitious youngster pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management.

In his first semester at UJ, he demonstrated exceptional academic performance, successfully passing 4 out of 5 of his modules with distinction. His hard work and commitment to his studies are reflected in his impressive average mark of 96%.

Diodivine Mkhize won the 2024 UJ Student-Athlete of the Year Award

Despite being new to the university environment, Mkhize has quickly adapted to the demands of higher education, consistently excelling in his coursework and setting a strong foundation for his future success in the field of Human Resource Management.

Rooskrantz and Cornelia Mupenda attained second and third places in this category.

Age-Group Sportswoman of the Year:

Jenna Evans was crowned the Age Group Sportswoman of the Year for her splendid performances and exploits in cricket. The BSc Life and Environmental Science student won two gold and three sliver medals between October 2023 and September 2024.

She won her two gold medals with the South Africa Emerging Team at the Zimbabwe 6-Match T20 Series in Zimbabwe and the Soweto Club at the Wanderers T10. She clinched the three silver medals with the provincial DP World Lions Women’s Cricket Team at the 50 Over and T20 CSA Domestics League – as well as with Team South Africa at the 13th African Games in Ghana.

Young emerging runner Precious Molepo took silver while rower Emma Gomes walked away with a bronze certification.

Age-Group Sportsman of the Year:

Likhona Finca was crowned the Age-Group Sportsman of the Year in his first year at UJ. Finca a Transportation Management student, impressed in his maiden FNB Varsity Cup tournament participation. He won the Suzuki Rookie of the Year Award following his explosive tries and exploits for the Orange Army on the pitch.

He finished in 5th place with Team South Africa Under-20 Team at the Junior World Cup which took place in South Africa in June and July 2024. Finca also reached the final of the Junior Currie Cup with the Lions Under-21 in 2024.

Cricketer Martin Khumalo and Squash player Diodivine Mkhize came second and third, respectively.

Likhona Finca won the 2024 UJ Age Group Sportsman of the Year Award

Club Sportsperson of the Year:

UJ Athletics’ club member, Udeme Okon, was crowned the Club Sportsperson of the Year. This awards honours club members who are not students but are club members

Okon lit up the stage and became one of the athletics stars most talked about during the World Athletics Under-20 Championship in Lima, Peru. In Lima, the emerging track star won a gold medal for Team South Africa in the junior men’s 400m race with a time of 45.69 seconds.

He went on to win a silver medal in the junior men’s 4x400m relay with a time of 3:05.22 in Lima, Peru. Earlier this year, Okon won a silver medal in the 200m at the ASA Under-20 National Championship in Tshwane, with a time of 20.54 seconds.

Runner Shirley Nekhubui and Olympic long jumper, Cheswill Johnson ranked second and third, respectively.

Udeme Okon won the 2024 UJ Club Sportsperson of the Year Award