Showing remarkable grit and elite endurance, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Athletics Club secured a third-place finish at the recent University Sport South Africa (USSA) Cross Country Championships. The championship took place at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in Cape Town on 19 and 20 September 2026.
The achievement comes on the heels of a demanding schedule for several of the university’s top athletes. Having competed at the FASU Games in Egypt, team members landed back home a day before jetting straight off to Cape Town, capping off UJ’s national running calendar for the year with a gritty podium performance.
UJ claimed the third-place spot on the team standings with 102 combined participation points, earning a total tally of six medals across team and individual categories. In the team events, UJ collected one gold, one silver, and one bronze, while individual efforts added two silvers and a bronze to the tally.
Highlighting the individual performances, Sibusiso Msibi delivered a strong display in the men’s 3km race to capture a silver medal, while Themba Thingane put on a relentless performance in the men’s 10km race to claim UJ’s second individual silver. Adding to the podium sweep, the UJ-A squad powered through the short mixed 4x2km relay to earn a hard-fought bronze.
“The team has performed really well and we’re happy with their achievements. While we would have wanted to finish at the top of the other competing institutions’, we can’t complain especially after dominating the FASU Games in Cairo just days earlier than the Cross Country,” said Roger Haitengi, speaking after returning from the two competitions in Egypt and Cape Town.
The UJ delegation featured a talented lineup of student-athletes, including Shokane Raseekele Kgopotso, Bosman Casey Faith, Mosale Thobejane, Radebe Paballo, Mashishi Khunedi Ellina, Nkomo Andiswa Keisha, Mampane Noluthando, Mabhena Faith Busisiwe, Sibusiso Calvin Msibi, Ntoe Phemelo, Lerumo Tumelo Nelson, Motlhamme Boikanyo, Msomi Sanele, Themba Thingane, Hajane Thabang, Madiope Katlego Ronnie, Coertze Jacqueline, Sethowa Raisibe Johannah, and Lusiti Lehlohonolo Lucky.
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