First the Varsity Athletics crown and now the University Sports South Africa (USSA) champion. Needless to say - the North-West University (NWU) is the best university athletics team in South Africa.

From 4 to 6 April the NWU won 29 medals in Stellenbosch on their way to adding the USSA series to their list of achievements for 2019.

The university won 10 gold medals (the most), 10 silver (the most) and nine bronze medals (the same as Tuks, also the most) during their foray.

Tuks came second with a total of 25 medals, followed by UJ with 20 and Maties with 14 medals. Altogether 12 universities took part in the event.

For the NWU Tiaan Kleynhans (110 h), Johann Grobler (javelin), Tshepang Makhete (hammer throw), Gena Löfstrand (800 m), Marga Cumming (hammer throw), Jo-Ané van Dyk (javelin), Nadja Fourie (pole vault), Anri Salim (heptathlon) and Anette Koen (20 km walking) all returned with gold medals.     

In addition, 11 NWU athletes were selected to take part in the FISU Universiade – in short the students’ world games – in Naples, Italy from 4 to 9 July..

These students are Chederick van Wyk (100 m, 200 m), Theodor Young (100 m, 200 m, 110 h), Tiaan Kleynhans (110 h), Mpho Links (high jump), Tshepang Makhete (hammer throw), Alan Cumming (hammer throw), Johann Grobler (javelin), Brendon Skinner (javelin), Jo-Ané van Dyk (javelin), Joné Kruger (long jump) and Gena Löfstrand (800 m).

This is indeed an exceptional achievement and sufficient reason for athletics manager Terseus Liebenberg to smile broadly.