South African long-jump champion Zarck Visser and international rowing gold medallist Kirsten McCann were named Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year at the University of Johannesburg’s Gala Sports Awards ceremony.
Visser, who won the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Switzerland in August, was indeed UJ’s standout male performer. His season’s best jump of 8.32m, achieved at that meeting, saw the 24-year-old move into fifth spot on the IAAF rankings. Aside from defending his national title, the third-year transport management student also jumped his way to gold for UJ in the inaugural Varsity Athletics series earlier this year.
In the women’s category, McCann was awarded the university’s top accolade for a second year in a row. The third-year Bachelor of Science student secured the honours with her lightweight single sculls victory at the world student championships in Kazan, Russia, in July. McCann, 25, followed this up with an eighth place at the senior world championships. She also added to her medal tally with gold and silver at the senior national champs.
