Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Months
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Previous Archive
18 April 2018 Photo Facebook
Bright future for Two Oceans winner and former Kovsie Gerda Steyn
Gerda Steyn, former Kovsie student and winner of the Two Oceans ultramarathon this year, with her trophy.

Gerda Steyn, female winner of this year’s Two Oceans ultramarathon, says her life has changed for the better in a very short time.

The former Kovsie received an invitation to a world-renowned marathon at the end of the year. She may not reveal the details yet.

Steyn, who studied Quantity Surveying and Construction Management at the University of the Free State (UFS) between 2009 and 2012, was just the third South African to win the Two Oceans since 1994. Her time of 3:39:31 was the second-best in the past seven years. For many she was a surprise winner because she didn’t compete last year and only managed a 14th place in 2016. 

“Things really took off since the race (in Cape Town at the end of March). I received a lot of exposure. People say you must try and win the race, but they don’t tell you what will happen after that with all the media attention.

“My next goal is the Comrades for which I started training in the third week of April. I will only decide on my specific goals for the race two weeks beforehand.” She obtained a fourth place last year.

According to Steyn, who is a full-time athlete, she only did a couple of cross country races while she was studying. 

“I played a bit of soccer and hockey for my hostel (Soetdoring). I have very fond memories from my university days. A couple of our hostel friends had a reunion after the race in Cape Town and had reason to have a big party.”

News Archive

Boost for hockey in the Free State and South Africa
2006-06-20

The University of the Free State (UFS) will soon be one of a few universities in South Africa that are able to host national and international hockey tournaments in the country.

Two astro hockey fields are to be built on the western side of the UFS Main Campus in Bloemfontein.  This is one of a number of major capital projects approved by the Council of the UFS earlier this month. 

“The plans are drawn and the contractors are ready to move on site to start with the cleaning and digging process of the two astro fields,” said Mr James Letuka, Director of KovsieSport at the UFS.

According to Mr Letuka, the UFS will fund the building of the one astro hockey field  whilst the building of the second court will be a joint venture between the university and  high schools in Bloemfontein.    

The two astro fields will be built on what is currently the Number 4 cricket field next to Shimla Park Rugby Stadium.

“This project will go a long way towards halting the outflow of good hockey players from the Free State. Hopefully they will find our facilities an attractive option,” said Mr Letuka.

“The astro fields will also place us in a good position to provide training camps for national teams, development teams, as well as international teams,” said Mr Letuka.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel:   (051) 401-2584
Cell:  083 645 2454
E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za 
20 June 2006

 

 

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept