NMMU’s Ischke Senekal will be aiming for a podium finish in the Shot Put event in the year’s second Varsity Athletics meeting in Stellenbosch on April 20.
The Education student is a Varsity Athletics veteran with 2015 being her third year competing against some of South Africa’s best universities. She will be hoping to improve on her personal best against some stiff opposition in Stellenbosch.
“My preparations are coming along. I still have a few things still to work on but it is going quite good at the moment.” Senekal told varsitysportssa.com.
“At this stage I just want to finish in the top three and throw over 15.40m. My personal best at the moment is 15.39.”
The Madibaz athlete said her biggest competition will come from NWU-Pukke’s Geraldine Duvenhage and UJ’s Lizelle Jordaan. Duvenhage won the Discus title in Potchefstroom in the last meeting a few weeks ago, while Jordaan will represent South Africa at the World Junior Athletic Championships later this year.
Senekal will be using Varsity Athletics as a stepping stone for even more goals, with the Olympic Games in Rio next year being the biggest.
“I am trying to qualify for World Student Games for Discus. I also want to be part of the Olympics one day. I will just try to qualify for Rio next year,” she said.
Having been part of Varsity Athletics since its inception in 2013, Senekal has seen first-hand the impact the competition is having on the growth of athletics in the country.
“It is my third year in Varsity Athletics and the level of talent improves every year. It made people appreciate the sport more and it is giving some people more exposure to the sport,” Senekal added.
