After Tuks’s win in Varsity Athletics, the second meeting is on its way and athletes looking to go faster, further and higher. Let’s take a look at some records that will never be broken.
Gift Leotlela – 200 metres (Tuks)
Leotlela is a fast-rising star in the athletics world after beating Wayde Van nie Kerk in 2017 with a 100m time of 10 seconds flat. The Tuks sprinter etched his name in the Varsity Athletics history books after completing a sensational time of 20.5 in the 200m last year. Considering Olympian Wayde van Niekerk holds the South African record, which is just under the 20-second mark, no one will be breaking Leotlela’s record any time soon.
Caster Semenya – 400 metres (NWU)
With gold medals at the Olympics, World Championships, African Championships and World Junior Championships Caster Semenya has done it all. And she has, including breaking the Varsity Athletics 400m record in 2016. One of South Africa’s greatest ever athletes, Semenya ran an exceptional 53.9 time, breaking Maties sprinter Justine Palframan’s time of 53.95. Considering Palframan and Semenya’s calibre, it’s unlikely for someone to ever catch Semenya’s time.
Simon Magakwe – 100 metres (NWU)
The likes of Usain Bolt, Justin Gatland and Asafa Powell have all graced the 100 metre sprints track and dominated in their own right, but when it comes to Varsity Athletics’ shortest and arguably most exciting race, Simon Magakwe will forever be remembered as the man who owned the track. The pacey NWU student recorded a time of 9.9 in 2014 at the NMU event. With so few athletes dipping below the 10-second mark, Magakwe should keep his record for a while.
Wade van Niekerk – 400 metres (UFH)
Regarded as one the finest athletes in the world, Van Niekerk has set the global athletics world alight, winning the Gold medals in Rio de Janeiro for the 400 metres, Beijing for the 400 metres and in Durban for the 200 metres. He recently broke the world record for the 400 metres when he ran 43.03 seconds, an incredible time meaning he ran on average around 10.75 seconds for every 100 metres of the race. He shattered the Varsity Athletics time, representing the University of Free State and ran a 45.42, a record that will unlikely ever be broken.
