An impressive 8.20m long jump ensured the gold medal again for Nikithemba Hani at the 2024 University Sport South Africa (USSA) Track and Field Championships which took place at Coetzenburg
Stadium in Stellenbosch recently.
Hani ((3rd year IIE Bachelor of Education in Intermediate Phase Teaching at The IIE’s Varsity College Nelson Mandela Bay) remains the UUSA Long Jump champion. Hani then competed in the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Senior Track and Field National Championships at the Msunduzi Athletics Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal on 18 April where he secured a bronze medal and set a new Eastern Province long jump record.
Said Nikithemba about his ASA results: “Ready to rock the national stage, I was determined to upgrade last year’s bronze to a shiny silver. With seven 8m jumpers in the mix, the heat was on. In the finals, I gave it my all, aiming high for that 8m mark. When I landed at 8.05m and snagged the bronze, it was a whirlwind of excitement and a pinch of ‘what if’. Looking back, I cannot help but wonder if I could have pushed a bit more. But hey, no regrets—I left everything out there. So, while the shiny silver got away this time, the journey was packed with growth, gratitude, and pure grit.”
Nikithemba is waiting in anticipation to hear if he will be competing in Europe next month, in Cameroon in June and he has his sights sets on qualifying for the Olympic team this year.
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