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25 September 2019 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Stefan Els
Run to Stellenbosch run
The baton #hope took centre stage at the welcoming ceremony of the #UFSRun4MentalHealth team at Coetzenburg stadium in Stellenbosch on 25 September 2019. Pictured here from the left; Susan van Jaarsveld, Burneline Kaars, Arina Engelbrecht and Tertia de Bruin.
The #UFSRun4MentalHealth awareness runners arrived in Stellenbosch on 25 September 2019.

The 21-member team from the Faculty of Health Sciences and Organisational Development and Employee Wellness at the University of the Free State (UFS) had a send-off ceremony on the Bloemfontein Campus on 20 September 2019, on their running journey to Stellenbosch University (SU) to raise awareness for #MentalHealth. The teams ran a distance of 1 075 km at an average speed of 10.03 km/h or a pace of 5 minutes and 59 seconds per km.

"At last, the team has arrived. I am extremely proud of all the runners and I think they have touched many lives, and I think it was a wonderful experience. On behalf of the University of the Free State, welcome to Stellenbosch!," said Susan van Jaarsveld; Senior Director: UFS Human Resources

"We ran 1 075 kilometres from Bloemfontein to Stellenbosch. Yes, we did have some challenges along the road. There were some steeps that were too heavy, and the wind, the dryness, and some gravel roads that we went through. But, because of the team spirit and the inspiration that we maintained during our challenge, we did very well until we got to Stellenbosch this morning," said red team member, Diphate Dimo from the university's Facilities Management. 


Read more:
#UFSRun4MentalHealth: 973 km down, 100 km to go
First #MentalHealth awareness run to Stellenbosch to bring hope
MENTAL HEALTH: It affects all of us
Guardians of Mental Health
#KovsiesCare: HR prioritises mental health in the workplace



At the finish line, after they ran a distance of 1 075 km at an average speed of 10.03 km/h or a pace of 5 minutes and 59 seconds per km.
At the finish line, after they ran a distance of 1 075 km at an average speed of 10.03 km/h or a pace of 5 minutes and 59 seconds per km.
Susan van Jaarsveld, Burneline Kaars, Arina Engelbrecht, Tertia de Bruin
Susan van Jaarsveld, Burneline Kaars, Arina Engelbrecht, Tertia de Bruin
Runners in Ceres
Runners in Ceres
One of the #UFSRun4MentalHealth runners
One of the #UFSRun4MentalHealth runners
One of the #UFSRun4MentalHealth runners
One of the #UFSRun4MentalHealth runners
One of the #UFSRun4MentalHealth runners
One of the #UFSRun4MentalHealth runners
One of the #UFSRun4MentalHealth runners
One of the #UFSRun4MentalHealth runners
On their way to Coetzenburg Stadium
On their way to Coetzenburg Stadium
On their way to Coetzenburg Stadium
On their way to Coetzenburg Stadium
On their way to Coetzenburg Stadium
On their way to Coetzenburg Stadium
Ready for the arrival of the #UFSRun4MentalHealth runners at Coetzenburg Stadium
Ready for the arrival of the #UFSRun4MentalHealth runners at Coetzenburg Stadium
Almost in Stellenbosch
Almost in Stellenbosch
One of the #UFSRun4MentalHealth teams
One of the #UFSRun4MentalHealth teams
Handing over the baton of hope from one team to the next
Handing over the baton of hope from one team to the next
10 km before Victoria West
10 km before Victoria West
Early morning start
Early morning start
One of the runners with the baton of hope
One of the runners with the baton of hope
#UFSRun4MentalHealth runner
#UFSRun4MentalHealth runner
They also met fellow Kovsies on the way
They also met fellow Kovsies on the way
#UFSRun4MentalHealth runner
#UFSRun4MentalHealth runner
#MentalHealthAwareness being done in all the towns
#MentalHealthAwareness being done in all the towns
One of the #UFSRun4MentalHealth teams
One of the #UFSRun4MentalHealth teams
Transport for the #UFSRun4MentalHealth team
Transport for the #UFSRun4MentalHealth team

News Archive

Wayde van Niekerk sets new African record
2015-06-11


Wayde van Niekerk

Eight years before Wayde van Niekerk was born, Gabriel Tiacoh set a record of 31.74 in a 300m race. Now, 7 June 2015 has been marked as the historic day when the University of the Free State student sprinted 300m in 31.63 seconds at the Diamond League meeting in Birmingham.


Van Niekerk improved on his 2011 personal best 300m finish of 33.32 seconds, set in Stellenbosch. The African championship silver medalist said setting a new African record was “a blessing that I cannot really explain. Everything I achieve is God’s work.”

“What drives me is my family and friends, and the fact that I know my gift comes from God so running is my way of thanking the Lord,” he added.


Odessa Swarts, his mother, expressed how proud she is of her son. “I believe and trust with his faith in our heavenly father he is destined to become one of the greats South Africa has ever produced.”


His coach, Ans Botha, expressed her satisfaction, although she described his feat as “a little bit unexpected.” She said Van Niekerk’s achievement indicates that they are in the right track en route to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in Beijing.


Van Niekerk is at present preparing for a 400m Adidas Grand Prix event in New York this Saturday.

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