Kovsies high jumper Leandri Botha managed to cause an upset in the women’s high jump and take the title at the inaugural Varsity Athletics meeting in Stellenbosch.
The jumper went into the competition with a set goal and she exceeded that as well as the rest of the field to won the nine points for her university.
“I went into the event with the plan to jump 1.70 metres and I was just jumping against myself.
“My personal best is 1.76 and I got close to that which I am happy about.
“The other competitors were not in my mind during the competition,” she added.
Botha managed to pip favourite Bianca Erwee from Pukke when Erwee could not clear 1.80 metres and Botha had already jumped 1.75 metres.
As with many of the athletes the conditions meant that the heights were not as good as they could have been.
“The weather played a big part in preventing us from jumping higher,” Botha mentioned.
There is a welcome break for the high jumpers as they are not involved in next weeks meeting and will return for the final meeting at Tuks.
