In just four days, a puff of smoke and the crack of a cap gun will sound the start of 2016 Varsity Athletics at Coetzenburg Stadium in Stellenbosch. Adrenalin will be thrusting through the veins of student athletes from around South Africa, as their starting blocks symbolise more than a single race – it’s a platform from which to launch their careers. For others, it could be the final push towards the Olympic Games in Rio later this year.
If the stakes weren’t high enough for the young athletes, they’ll be up against some of Africa’s finest when competing at the meeting on 4 March, as a number of the top athletes in Africa make their way to the Cape.
One such athlete is South Africa’s Caster Semenya. It’s hard to believe Semenya is still just 25 years old. With three years experience since she added an Olympic silver medal to her locker, Semenya will lead a world class Pukke team and sharpen up the competitive edge in the events she takes part in.
This year’s meeting has been moved to slightly earlier than last year’s meeting, in order to accommodate the schedules of the athletes, many of which have set the Olympics as the fulcrum of their plans. Varsity Sports will also adopt the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) points system for the event.
“This is a beautiful but brutal sport,” said Varsity Sports CEO, Duitser Bosman, at the official launch of Varsity Athletics in Stellenbosch last week. “But it encourages the strong to become stronger.
“We are pleased to be able to offer these young athletes what an international experience is like. That is part of the reason that the competition will be run in the IAAF format this year.”
A man looking to take full advantage of the opportunity to participate in an event with an international feel, will be Akani Simbine. His name could well be one splashed across the newspaper headlines on Saturday morning. The 22-year-old sprinter broke the 10-second barrier in July last year, running the 100 metres in 9.97 seconds.
The fact that some of Simbine’s quickest times have come in Stellenbosch will bode well for the young speedster. Not so much for his competitors. Although, they will be well aware of the who they are up against, and should they win, what that could mean for their careers.
Whether it’s career launches, big upsets, broken records or even just a few PBs – South African athletics is in for a treat this Friday. Blink and you’ll miss it.
Varsity Athletics begins at 16:45 on 4 March at Coetzenburg Stadium in Stellenbosch and will be aired live on SuperSport 5 and SuperSport 10.
For all the fixtures, please see the Varsity Athletics schedule.
