More than 60 student-athletes and external members of the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Athletics Club are travelling to Bloemfontein to compete in the 2023 University Sport South Africa (USSA) track and field championships from 4 to 6 May 2023. The athletes will be competing in a number of different events including sprints, middle and long distance running, relays, javelin, discus, hammer throw, hurdles, long and high jump at the University of Free State.
Both male and female athletes will compete in individual and team events. This year’s USSA championships are crucial as they will determine the student-athletes who will qualify to represent the University in World Student Games in Chengdu, China, in August 2023.
The UJ Athletics Club has a reputation for producing top performing athletes who have excelled at local, national, and international levels. Last year, the club won 25 medals at the USSA championships and dominated the FASU Student Games in Nairobi, Kenya. The athletes have worked tirelessly to build on the previous year’s success and are confident to deliver outstanding performances this year.
Day 1 features events such as the 3000m Steeple Chase, 400mH, 1500m, long jump, triple jump, and the 10,000m run – with finals scheduled for the men’s and women’s categories of the pole vault, javelin, and 4x400m mixed relay.
Day 2 feature events such as the 800m, 100mH, 100m, discus, heptathlon, and decathlon. After the midday break, competition continues with the addition of the men’s and women’s 100m and 110mH.
The final day (Day 3) features the men’s and women’s half marathon, senior walk, and events such as the 200m, high jump, javelin, pole vault, 400m, and triple jump.
Over the years, the UJ Athletics Club has and continues to produce athletes who have represented South Africa and other UJ student-athletes’ countries of origin in prestigious global events such as the Commonwealth Games, Senior African Athletics Championships, and World Championships as well as the Olympic Games.
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