Just four days remain until the exciting and explosive 2016 Varsity Athletics meeting kicks off at the University of Johannesburg’s athletics stadium. Planning for a podium position this coming Friday, is an exciting University of Stellenbosch athletics team led by the 2015 World Student 400m champion, Justine Palframan.
Palframan will line up in the women’s 200m race as a clear favourite after winning both the 200m and 400m races at this past weekend’s Boland Athletics championships. Another lady to watch is the ever-so-competitive defending Varsity Athletics long jump champion, Samantha Pretorius, who will be amongst the top women long jumpers hoping for a leap of over six metres to secure a podium position.
Also running her way into contention will be the fearless 1500m star, Thineke Foure, who boasts a 4:30 personal best in the event. She will line up in a talented field, but as we’ve seen from her time and time again, Thineke is not going down without a fight. And rounding up the women’s team is 400m hurdle contender Jean-Mare Senekal, who will be aiming to better her feats of second position the past two years, 100m hurdlers Janke van Wyk and Nienka du Toit, 800m contender Sunel Jacob and 100m sprinter Shannon Arendse.
The University of Stellenbosch men’s team will be led by the in-shape 5000m runner Petrus Malherbe. Malherbe brags a sub 15-minute 5000m time that solidifies his spot as one of the favourite middle/long distance athletes at this year’s Varsity Athletics meeting.
Joining the men’s squad is 47.9 second 400m stalwart Diwan Kamoetie, who could possibly finish in the top five this coming Friday. The remainder of the team is made up by discus thrower Cameron Donkin, 800m starters Jan-Hendrik Theron and Casper Labuschagne, 110m hurdler Morne Janse van Vuuren and triple jump stars Kwezi Mthoba and Adam Ajam. A man to certainly look out for is Javelin specialist Dante de Wet who will keenly be eyeing the 65 to 70-metre mark.
The University of Stellenbosch will be vying for an overall podium finish by playing to their strengths and if they do, there is no reason they won’t be seen donning the medals that every athlete envies!
Maties team:
Men: Diwan Kamoetie (400m/4X100m), Morne Janse van Rensburg (110mH/4X100m), Kwezi Mtoba (Triple Jump/4X100m), Cameron Donkin (Discus), Johannes Esterhuizen (1500m/Medley), Marcel Maree (High Jump), Petrus Malherbe (5000m), Casper Labuschagne (800m), Jan Hendrik Theron (800m), Wynand du Toit (Long Jump/Medley), Aden Aiam (Triple Jump/4X100m), Dante de Wet (Javelin)
Women: Thineke Fourie (1500m/Medley), Jean Mare Senekal (400mH/4X100m), Samantha Pretorius (Long Jump/4X100m), Nienka du Toit (Shot Put/100mH), Justine Palframan (200m/Medley), Marieke Bruwer (400m/4X100m), Janke van Wyk (100mH/4X100m), Sunel Jacobs (800m/Medley), Inari Basson (400m), Shannon Arendse (100m/4X100m)
By Reginald Hufkie
