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09 March 2018 Photo Varsity Sports
Athletes show huge promise at Varsity Athletics meeting
Hendrik Martens of the Kovsies earned a silver medal in the 200m at theVarsity Athletics meeting in Pretoria.
The University of the Free State (UFS) dominated affairs in the middle distance at the first Varsity Athletics meeting of the year where they bagged no less than three gold and two silver medals.
The meeting took place on Friday 2 March at the Tuks Athletics Stadium in Pretoria. 

Middle distances have produced Olympic athletes for Kovsies such as Johan Cronjé and Rynardt van Rensburg in the recent past. 

Kovsies produced winners
The Kovsies produced both the men’s and women’s winners in the 800m. They were Ruan Jonck (1:50.06) and Ts’epang Sello (2:07.15) respectively.

Bennie Prinsloo finished in second spot.

In the 1500m for women, two Free State students also took the first two spots. Tyler Beling, who is just18 years old, dominated and finished six seconds (04:39.47) before Lara Orrock (04:45.2) in second place.
Orrock is also a first-year. Beling and Orrock were two of eight first-year students in the team of 25 athletes.
Apart from a first place in the men’s varsity mixed medley relay that was unfortunately the only gold medals the Kovsies managed on the night. 
They ended in fourth position behind Tuks (first), NWU (second) and UJ (third).

Gold, silver and bronze medals
There were, however, several silver and bronze medals.

Hendrik Maartens (second) and Oratile Sethlabi (third) gave good performances in the 200m. 

In the long jump for women, Maryke Brits grabbed second place and Norbert Ponisammy did the same for men. Interestingly, both also compete as sprinters.
Sefako Mokhosoa was the second best triple jumper and Nadia Meiring and Juan Muller both earned third spots in the hammer throw.

The second Varsity Athletics meeting is scheduled for 23 March 2018 in Pretoria.

News Archive

Number of NRF-rated researchers increases in 2012
2012-10-29

29 October 2012

Three researchers at the University of the Free State received B-ratings for 2013 from the National Research Foundation (NRF). Prof. Johan Henning, Dean of Law, obtained the highest rating in his field of mercantile law in South Africa, a B1.

Prof. Jackie Naudé from Classical and Near Eastern Studies and Prof. Dingie Janse van Rensburg, Professor Extraordinary at the Centre for Health Systems Research and Development, also obtained B3-ratings. Prof. Naudé is the first B-rated researcher in the Faculty of Humanities.
Prof. Helene Strauss obtained the highest rating (Y1) for a UFS young scholar in the Humanities.
In total, the NRF rated researchers at the UFS grew from 95 in 2011 to 109 in 2012, a growth of almost 15 percent.
The NRF ratings committee consist of three reviewers from South Africa and three from abroad. A rating is valid for six years and researchers must reapply for rating before the end of that period.
For a B1-rating all reviewers must be firmly convinced that the applicant enjoys considerable international recognition for the high quality of the researcher’s recent output, with some indicating that the researcher is a leading international scholar in a field. For a B3-rating most of the reviewers must be convinced that the researcher enjoys international recognition for the high quality and impact of the research.
Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, said in the UFS Research Report “The UFS now has among the highest number of NRF-rated scientists per size of the academic faculty and we have seen the productivity graph bear witness to a record growth in our funded research outputs; we have won our first-ever NRF/DST Research Chairs. In each of these achievements, the excellence we seek comes with and through the diversity we celebrate.”
More ratings and renewals were expected by the time of Bult went to print.. More than 35 researchers applied for ratings or renewal of ratings.
  • Colleagues who were admitted to the prestigious Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) are Profs. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, Driekie Hay, Heidi Hudson, Lodewyk Kock, Odireleng Ntwaeaborwa, Hugh Patterton, Ian Phimister and Melanie Walker. ASSAf was established in 1996 with the mission of using science for the benefit of society. New members are elected after nomination by four existing members (at least two of whom do so from personal knowledge of the candidate). ASSAf has some 350 members and represents South Africa in the international community of science academies.
  • Dr Marieka Gryzenhout of Plant Sciences became a member of South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS). SAYAS celebrated its first year in 2012. It was launched as a means to enable South Africa’s young scientists to fully participate in locally and internationally relevant research and development agendas. Prof. Aldo Stroebel, Director: Internationalisation, is also a member of SAYAS.

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