With ten (10) medals, the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Athletics Club runners won the University Sport South Africa (USSA) Cross-Country championships by a country mile in Bloemfontein on Saturday, 09 and Sunday, 10 October 2021. The UJ student-athletes dominated the all the categories of the competition, taking the top spot on the medal standings.
The Orange Army, UJ, finished the championship with six gold, two silver and three bronze medals. In May this year, UJ ended in second position on the medal standings at the USSA track and field championships organised at the University’s Athletics Stadium in Westdene.
After failing to defend the USSA Cross-Country title in 2019, UJ Athletics continued its thrilling performances. UJ toppled the defending USSA champions, University of Free State (UFS) in their territory.
In an interesting turn of events, UJ won the championship before the second day of the championship commenced. This meant the Orange Army had two times more medals than its nearest rivals. UJ’s 2021 consistent winning athletes, Nicole van der Merwe and Maxime Chaumeton, ran record times in their respective 10km races.
UJ’s performances in the championships:
Gold Medals:
Elvis Mokhonoana, Nkosinathi Sibiya, Thamsanqa Khonco & Neo Hlalukane- Men’s 4x4km relay 46:57
Nicole van der Merwe- Women’s 10km 36:56 (Record)
Maxime Chaumeton- Men’s 10km 30:05 (Record)
Welma Nkuna, Rachel Leistra, Johannes Raphotle, Elvis Mokhonoana- Mixed Relay 25:02
Men 10km Team Competition
Men 4km Team Competition
Silver Medals:
Sisanda Dumisa- Women’s 4km 14:39
Women’s 4km Team Competition
Bronze Medals:
Onkabetse Sebola- Men’s 10km 31:07
Rachel Leistra- Women’s 10km 38:28
UJ athletes.
UJ Athletics Club team in 2021 USSA Cross-Country championships in Bloemfontein, Free State Province.
