NWU athletes shine at the 2026 SA Road Running Championships

NWU athletes showed grit and determination during the 2026 SA Road Running Championships in Gqeberha (Nelson Mandela Bay) on Saturday, 27 June.

Two of the standout performers were Thinus Erasmus and Bertus van der Linde, who dominated the junior mile race. Erasmus outsprinted his NWU teammate Van der Linde in a thrilling finish, edging ahead at the line to claim gold. Van der Linde finished just a couple of paces behind to secure silver, completing an outstanding one-two finish for the NWU in Athletics Central North West (ACNW) colours.

The mile was recently added to the SA Championships and has quickly become a popular event among track athletes, giving them the opportunity to showcase their speed on the road over the 1,6 km distance. Nicholas de Scally also impressed with a strong fifth-place finish in the senior mile.

Koketso Mokoto added another gold medal to the tally of the NWU with a superb victory in the men's 5 km race. He crossed the finish line ahead of his NWU teammates Nicholas Killian (8th), Mohamed Batsi (25th) and Avuma Pheza (29th).

The NWU senior men's team also produced a solid performance to finish fifth overall in the 21 km.

In the men's 21 km race, Dino Nako (34th) and Divan de Vries (44th) performed admirably against some of the top road runners in the country.

NWU athletics manager, Tracey Oliver, praised the performances of the team and the manner in which they represented the university. “The results are really good. The mile podium places were a fantastic achievement for the juniors, as most of them form part of our track athlete group.”

Results of NWU athletes representing Athletics Central North West (ACNW)

21 km Men

Dino Nako – 34th

Divan de Vries – 44th

21 km Women

Kaitlyn Steenkamp – 16th

5 km Men

Koketso Mokoto – Gold

Nicholas Killian – 8th

Mohamed Batsi – 25th

Avuma Pheza – 29th

5 km Women