11/06/2013

The 2013 track and field athletics season has been one of many “ups” for three Human Movement Science students, Chad Herman, Magdaleen Louw and Garth Ellis.

At the SA Under 23 Championships in Pretoria Chad Herman captured the South African men’s javelin title in stunning fashion where he bettered his previous personal best distance by over three metres, throwing 74.70m. For her part Magdaleen Louw also improved her personal best in winning gold in the women’s hammer throw with a distance of 52.52m.

The following weekend at the South African Senior Championships in Stellenbosch Chad and Magdaleen both earned silver medals against their more senior opponents. Garth Ellis, a 2nd year HMS student, also competed here and earned a bronze medal in the men’s high jump with a height of 2.05m.

What followed was the newly established and exciting Varsity Cup Athletics Series where Chad asserted his dominance by winning both javelin competitions held at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and University of Pretoria (TUKS).   His 75.83m at the TUKS meeting being a life time best. For his part Garth achieved a personal best at the University of Stellenbosch meeting winning the high jump gold with a height of 2.08m. Garth also obtained a silver medal at the TUKS completion and another silver medal, this time in the long jump, at the UJ meeting. Unfortunately hammer throw was not included on the Varsity Cup programme.

The South African Student Championships took place in Durban at the end of April. At this meeting Magdaleen brought home a silver medal and Chad a bronze whilst Garth finished 4th in the high jump. On completion of the event Chad was named in the South African Student Athletics squad to take part in the World student Games in Russia in July.

The domestic season was concluded at the South African Open Championships in Potchefstroom last weekend where Chad won the men’s javelin silver medal with a distance of 75.22m.

We congratulate our athletes on their fine achievements this past season.

 Below from left to right:Garth Ellis, Magdaleen Louw and Chad Herman