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Four universities to walk 200 000 km in ten weeks

12 April 2019 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Charl Devenish

“May the best team win the 2019 BestMed Pedometer Challenge!” said LJ van Zyl, Pedometer Challenge ambassador.

Participants in the 2019 BestMed Pedometer Challenge will start improving their health step by step after the University of the Free State (UFS) challenged the Stellenbosch University, Central University of Technology, and North-West University (NWU) to an eight-week walking competition.

South African 400-metre hurdles record-holder and the Pedometer Challenge ambassador, LJ van Zyl, embraced the initiative as an alternative method to achieve fitness. “I am so tired of running and this is great way to stay fit,” he said during the official launch on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus on 5 April 2019.

Inter-institutional fight for fitness

Last year, the UFS Division for Organisational Development and Employment Wellness in the Department of Human Resources led a UFS-only challenge that saw 60 teams of staff members log a total of 54 606 km in eight weeks. The division then challenged the NWU.

Together, the NWU and UFS walked 132 000 km. This year, the UFS is taking it one step further by challenging two more institutions.

Leading the way

“We aim to get South Africa active – starting with the UFS – by embracing fitness and health ourselves,” said Arina Engelbrecht, UFS Employee Wellness Specialist.

Participants on all fitness and activity levels will gun for a 200 000 km target over 10 weeks.

The challenge kicked off on the Bloemfontein Campus with a 3-km walk at the launch, leaving 199 997 km between the four universities for the rest of the eight-week challenge.

News Archive

UFS wins four gold medals at USSA Track and Field Championships

2010-05-13

Charles le Roux in action with the tripple jump at the University Sport South Africa’s (USSA) Track and Field Championships.
Photo: DB Prinsloo

Athletes from the University of the Free State (UFS) performed well by winning four gold medals at the University Sport South Africa’s (USSA) Track and Field Championships presented at Potchefstroom this year. Marizette Badenhorst (throwing the hammer), Boy Soke (half-marathon), PC Beneke (400 m hurdles) and Windy Jonas (800 m) all brought home gold.

Following closely on their heels with a silver medal was Anneri Ebersohn (400 m hurdles), Janette Siebert (high jump), Boy Soke (10 000 m) and the 4x100 m relay team consisting of Thuso Mpuang, Kagisho Kumbane, Ashford Motsau and Nelis de Kock.

Thuso Mpuang (100 m and 200 m), Dumisane Hlaselo (1 500 m and 5 000 m), Ratlale Mokone (800 m), Pieter Marx (400 m hurdles), Marionet van der Merwe (heptathlon), and the team consisting of Pieter Marx, PC Beneke, Hannes Naudé and Windy Jonas (4x400 m relay) each received a bronze medal for Kovsies.

The Kovsies men’s team came third and the women’s team fourth in the team competition.

According to Mr DB Prinsloo from KovsieSport, the Kovsie athletes acquitted themselves well and without exception gave their best.

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