You’ll probably know Juli Vercuiel best as @julipoeli, the popular Instagram influencer from Cape Town. With more than 71 000 Instagram followers and just under 9000 YouTube subscribers, she possesses a lot of clout on social media. But as impressive as those numbers are, she’ll be looking to have a different influence altogether come Friday.
The former Stellenberg High School pupil is now studying at Stellenbosch University. Literally running between her BA Humanities classes and the athletics track, she has made success a habit and expect no different come Friday at the newly-renovated Coetzenburg Athletics Track.
“I’ve always had a dream to run on the big track with Varsity Athletics,” said Juli Vercuiel. “Cameras on you, all the people watching and just running and representing Maties was always a dream for me. I’m also very excited to run on the new track at Coetzenburg.”
Specialising in 400m hurdles and the 400m events, Vercuiel is particularly focusing her efforts on the 400m. Last year she ran a PB of 55.39 in the 400m, while her best official 400mH time is an impressive 59.26, ran a year earlier.
Having just turned 19, Vercuiel has her feet firmly grounded in terms of what her goals and dreams are.
“I think every athlete, when they’re little, says, ‘Mommy, I want to be an Olympic athlete one day.’ Maybe in 2024 that will happen, but right now I’m just chasing the dream to become better,” she said.
While a packed Coetzenburg Stadium will still contain less than a quarter of @julipoeli’s Instagram followers, there will be a lot more than 71 000 watching her as SuperSport broadcast the event live from 17:00 on channel 210.
