The 2017 Varsity Athletics season rolls on again on 3 March, 2017, starting off in Pukke land at the University of Potchefstroom. With the sport of athletics experiencing a resurgence due to the exploits of former Varsity Athletics superstars such as Wayde van Niekerk and Akani Simbini, there is new excitement around the track and the Tuks (University of Pretoria) women’s team will be a tough one to beat.

It is difficult to find a headline act within the women’s Tuks team with the likes of 100m Hurdler, Rikenette Steenkamp making a return from injury, Olympic youth Champion and 400mh heir apparent, Gezelle Magerman, 400m sensation Jeanelle Griesel and 2013 Africa Junior 100m Champion, Tebogo Mamathu in the mix. Add to that the incredibly talented hurdler and long jumper, Taylen Bieldt and 1500m exponent, Stella Marais and you have a potent combination for the Tuks team to rake in the points come 3 March.

Mamathu is likely to boss the women’s 100m after winning the South African Student Championships in 2016 and with her 11.40sec best time of 2016, she is by far the favourite to stamp her authority on the short sprint.

Bieldt and Steenkamp, although teammates, will be big rivals in the women’s 100m hurdles. Bieldt is still a Junior at 18 years and 119 days, come 3 March, but she will be out to give her team mate Steenkamp a real scare when they line up on Friday. Bieldt holds the Junior National Record of 13.35sec for the 100m hurdles run in Bydgoszcz at the World Junior Championships in 2016.

Steenkamp has battled with injury for the past two years, but has long been South Africa’s hope for the 100m hurdles. The 24-year-old Sport and Recreation Student won the Africa title in 2014 and opened her 2017 season with a wind assisted 13.14sec on 18 February and will take some beating come 3 March. But whilst the two Tuks Women will be keeping a wary eye on each other, they ignore Kovsies (UFS), Maryke Brits at their peril. Brits, formerly from Maties, but now doing her Bachelor’s of Education in Intermediate Phase Teaching in Bloemfontein, excels in both the women’s long jump and 100m hurdles.
Brits picked up the Bronze medal at the 2016 Africa Championships in the 100m hurdles, clocking her best ever time of 13.47sec; in the process just edging young Taylon Bieldt out of the medals. Bieldt was awarded the same time for fourth.
Griesel should have the women’s 400m wrapped up with 53.38sec PB run in Stellenbosch in 2015. 2017 will be her first year in the Senior ranks and the South African Junior Champion of 2016 will be out to show she has what it takes to make it as a Senior Athlete.

Tuks should also be dominant in the 400mh as Gezelle Magerman does seem to have the edge on the rest of the field. Her 57.75sec best is two seconds faster than that of her nearest rival.

But Tuks will not have it all their own way. Tamzin Thomas is favourite in the women’s 200m. The 2015 Africa Junior 100m Champion lines up with a best time of 23.35, run in Germiston in 2016. Thomas will be looking for maximum points for UWC in the half lapper, but also lines up in the long jump and will be the anchor in the 4x100m relay team.

The women’s 1500m will be one of the highlights of the evening. Stelle Marais (Tuks), Lessy Mabanda (VUT), Marne Mentz and Kesa Molotsane (both from Kovises) are all fairly evenly matched. Molotsane does seem to be the form athlete with her recent win the SA Cross Country “Trials” 10km road race in Benoni on 1 January.

But it is Lessy Mabanda who is the fastest in the field with a 4:23 clocking. Marais is not far behind, having run 4:24.48. But this is only marginally better than the 4:25.80 of Molotsane. Throw in Marne Mentz (4:35.41) and the three and three-quarter lap race will be one of the big races on the night.
The action gets underway at 15:30 on Friday night in Potchefstroom. Catch it live on SuperSport.

By Manfred Seidler