SA’s next generation of athletics stars set to compete at USSA Champs

University athletes from across South Africa will gather in Pretoria from 1 to 3 May for the 2025 USSA Track and Field Championships.

Hosted at Pilditch Stadium, this event is a key fixture on the university sports calendar.

The three-day event will offer student-athletes the chance to compete at a high level and test themselves against some of the best in the country.

With a new Olympic cycle looming, this annual meet offers a glimpse into the future of South African athletics.

📆The countdown is ON!🤩

Just 5️⃣ days until the 2025 USSA Track & Field Championships light up Pilditch Stadium. South Africa’s fastest, strongest, and fiercest student-athletes are coming to battle it out for gold!

Records will fall, legends will rise.🙌🏽#USSAAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/EETKnl2KcK

— #TeamSA (@USSAstudent) April 25, 2025

Over the years, the USSA Championships have earned a reputation for identifying up-and-coming talent. Household names like Wayde van Niekerk and Akani Simbine began their journeys at this level, long before they became global icons.

More recently, athletes like Edmund du Plessis and Bayanda Walaza, part of South Africa’s silver medal-winning 4x100m relay team in Paris, have continued that tradition, showing that the path to international success often starts on the university stage.

Jo-Ane Van Dyk, fresh off her medal-winning performance at the recent Olympic Games and one of USSA's flagship athletes, stands as a shining example of the calibre of talent this platform helps nurture. Her journey demonstrates the impact that university sport has in producing world-class competitors.

This year’s event carries even greater significance. With international competitions approaching and national selectors keeping an eye out for emerging talent, for many athletes, this isn’t just another university competition—it's a chance to take the next step in their athletic careers.

The championships will also serve as a crucial preparatory opportunity for athletes targeting the FISU World University Games, taking place this July, as well as the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

The program includes a full range of events that spectators can look forward to, from sprints and distance races to field events and multi-disciplines like the decathlon and heptathlon.

USSA Track and Field continues to be a space where performance, development, and opportunity meet. Spectators, supporters, and media are encouraged to attend and support the country’s emerging athletic talent.