Tuks' female athletes proved this past week at the 2025 ASA Senior Track & Field Champs in Potchefstroom that there is truth in the saying that women are the driving force behind many success stories.

Tuks won 21 medals (7 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze). Fourteen of the medals came about through the heroics of the female athletes. The two medical students, Charne du Plessis and Colette Uys, were class acts. 

Du Plessis qualified in the 800m for the World Championships, while Uys possibly achieved something few athletes have ever done. Her performance might even be a first in South African athletics. Uys medalled in three of the four throwing events. She won gold in the shot put and discus events and silver in the hammer throw.

Her winning distances of 18.14m in the shot put and 57.94m in the discus are personal bests. It is worth noting that in the last ten years, only Ashley Erasmus (18.17m in the shotput) and Yolandi Stander (58.80m in the discus) had performed better. 

The women's 800m was expected to be one of the highlights. The spectators were not disappointed. Prudence Sekgodiso won in 1:58.80, while Du Plessis' time of 1:58.98 is a personal best.

Du Plessis said it was vital for her to set the pace right from the start. Sekgodiso had other plans. The most important thing for her was to make sure she won gold without wasting too much energy—and rightly so. Sekgodiso had her mind set on also winning gold in the 1500m. It meant she had to be at her best three hours later. 

"After about 200 meters, Prudence cut in front of me and blocked me to slow the pace. She kept making it difficult for me to pass. I kept on trying to force the pace. In the back straight during the second lap, Prudence opened a gap with a staggering acceleration. I had no intention of giving up. Over the last 100m, I managed to close in on her again. The moment I crossed the finish line and realised that I had set a new personal best time and qualified for the World Championships was surreal," said Du Plessis.

"My legs were sore when I lined up for the 1500-meter final. That's why I didn't try to go along when the pace was warmed up early. Nothing could be gained by burning myself out over the first two laps. I bargained that some of the frontrunners would start to tire over the last lap. And so they did."

Sekgodiso won, running 4:11.34. Du Plessis was second in 4:12.30, missing out by 0.50 seconds of setting a personal best. 

Njabulo Mbatha, an 18-year-old TuksSport High School student, proved that he has what it takes to continue South Africa's proud tradition in the 400m hurdles when he finished second on Friday. He was third last year. Sabelo Dhlamini won the 400m hurdles in 48.57 seconds. Mbatha's time was 49.28 seconds.
"My race didn't start well. I hit the third hurdle hard. That was the turning point for me. I told myself to relax because I got this. It is exciting to have run a faster time than I did at last year's senior nationals and to have finished one position better."

Mbatha is having an outstanding season. Ten days before the SA Champs, he won the 400 m hurdles during a Golden Grand Prix Meeting in Botswana. His winning time of 49.06 seconds is a personal best. He is also the South African under-20 champion.

Gold: Peace Adedokun (triple jump - 16.19m), Zinzi Xulu (triple jump - 13.44m), Colette Uys (discus - 57.94m and shotput - 18.14), Fredriech Pretorius (decathlon), Colene Scheepers (4x400m relay), Williams
 (20km race walk) - 1:32:58)

Silver: Chane Kok (100m-hurdles - 13.79s), Dankuru Tshepang (high jump - 2.20m), Julia Neetling (high jump - 1.70m), Colette Uys (hammer throw - 65.53m), Surike Nortje (heptathlon), Morne van As (decathlon), Charne du Plessis (800m - 1:58.98 and 1500m - 4:12.30)

Bronze: Hannah van Niekerk (400m-hurdles - 56.67s), Roline Louw (100m-hurdles - 13.96s), Marthinus du Preez (400m-hurdles - 49.55s), Christe Loedolff - 53.04m), Hencu Lamberts (shotput - 17.89m), Grace Dikio (triple jump - 12.24m)