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25 February 2019 | Story Ruan Bruwer
Tharina van der Walt
The hammer thrower Tharina van der Walt is one of several first-class athletes among the first-year students at Kovsies this year. She is the South African U18 champ and record-holder in 2018.
Several top athletes, some of whom were the very best in the country in their respective events at school, have joined Kovsies as first-year students. They already had their first taste of glory as Kovsies when they recently won their events at the first-year meeting.
 
Among these first-years are Jannes Schlebusch (javelin thrower), Joviale Mbisha (sprinter), Colette Uys (discus/shot-put), and Tharina van der Walt (hammer thrower), who have all represented South Africa in the past two years.
 
Schlebusch won the silver medal at the World U18 championships in 2017, but was injured last year. Great things were expected for 2019, but during the first-year meeting he injured his ankle to such an extent that he will have to undergo an operation that would put him on the sideline for the rest of the season.
 
Van der Walt was the South African schools champ in the hammer throw for girls U19 in 2018, when she managed to set up a new school record of 57,83 m. She was ranked fourth at the World U18 champs in 2017. At the same meeting, Mbisha ended 14th in the 100 m.
 
Uys, who participated in the CAA Southern Region Youth and Junior Championships last year, achieved a second place in the discus at the 2018 National Secondary Schools Championships for girls U19. Other first-years who took part in the SA’s last year, are Vicky Oelofse (1 500 m) and Michael Skosana (long jump).
 
They will strengthen Kovsie Athletics, which already boasts a large group of athletes with international experience. Of the 16 athletes who participated internationally last year, only Kesa Molotsane and Lara Orrock will not be in action for the students again.
 
■ Imperium Residence won the men’s division and Arista/Amelia were the ladies’ winners.
 

News Archive

Monkey research attracts international attention
2016-07-11

Description: Monkey research attracts international attention Tags: Monkey research attracts international attention

Prof Trudy Turner from the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Prof Paul Grobler
from the Department of Genetics at the
University of the Free State, together with one
of the students researching monkey genes.
Photo: Siobhan Canavan

For this year’s Summer School programme, Prof Paul Grobler, from the University of the Free State Department of Genetics focuses on research about the conflict between monkeys and humans in areas where monkeys are regarded as problem animals.

Global expert part of research

This year, Prof Grobler is hosting a group of students and lecturers from the United States of America (USA). The group includes Prof Trudy Turner from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), a global expert on vervet monkeys. She has been working with the Department of Genetics at the UFS for the past fifteen years, and has also been appointed as an Affiliated Professor in the department.

“The Summer School programme is an opportunity for the American Primatology students to gain practical experience in Africa,” says Prof Grobler.

International interest in Summer School

This year’s Summer School programme involves four lecturers and nine students. The lecturers are from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Boston University, and Central Washington University.

“We use the genetic information to determine
how monkeys historically infiltrated the
different areas in South Africa.”

This year’s focus is on the genetic structure of the monkeys in South Africa, and research that is being done on the differences and similarities in monkeys from different areas. “We use the genetic information to determine how monkeys historically infiltrated the different areas in South Africa,” says Prof Grobler.

Local nature reserve acting as host

The group will perform field work, including observing monkeys in the Soetdoring Nature Reserve, as well as laboratory work in the department, where they will be assisted by two laboratory technicians.

Two years ago, Prof Grobler and his department tested this idea on a smaller scale, and now they hope to make this a regular event. 

 

 

 

 

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