For the first time in many years an international senior athletics meeting will be held at the newly renovated DP de Villiers stadium in Sasolburg. It will take place on Tuesday, 25 March 2014 at 16:45. This Sasol NWU Pukke permit meeting is one of only a few senior athletics meetings that will take place before the South African Senior Athletics Championships on 11 and 12 April 2014 in Pretoria.

Hosted by Sasol and in partnership with the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus and the controlling body of the DP de Villiers stadium, the meeting is an accredited international senior athletics permit meeting. It was made possible by the stadium renovations completed in 2012, which was primarily achieved through Sasol’s infrastructure development project, Ikusasa. The stadium now has a level two track status, which enables it to host national events with all records accepted by the International Athletics Federation.

Besides seeing home-grown athletic heroes such as Chris Harmse (hammer throw) and Eliza Naudé (discus) in action, who have received international acclaim, spectators can look forward to performances by two of South Africa’s top athletes, who are André Olivier (800m) and Elroy Gelant (3000m), who have both just returned from the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot Poland.

The 400m hurdles is always an exciting event. However, both the men and ladies events promise to be spectacular. 400m hurdle legends LJ van Zyl and Cornel Fredericks will go head-to-head, while South Africa’s two top ladies, Wenda Theron and Anneri Ebersohn, are sure to make sparks fly when they zoom around the track. While Sunette Viljoen will be in action in the javelin event, spectators can also look forward to international competition as two athletes from Botswana and two from Egypt are to face each other in the 400m for men.

“The Sasol NWU Pukke permit athletics meeting is a highlight on our events calendar in Sasolburg. It attracts families and passionate athletes and involves the community, which is why we love it. Sasol is committed to making a difference in its operational areas, and wants to make the meeting as enjoyable as possible for all in attendance,” said Ivor Zwane, General Manager Public Affairs Sasol, Sasolburg.

According to Terseus Liebenberg, athletics manager of the NWU Puk the Sasol NWU Pukke permit athletics meeting is one of the penultimate events that gives athletes the opportunity to prove they are the next greatest, fastest, loudest, proudest … in other words the next first.

“Being a partner in the event showcases NWU Pukke’s active involvement in sports, and athletics training in particular,” said Liebenberg. “Not only is NWU Pukke a preferred training destination for hundreds of athletes from around the world, but our university team has been the University Sports South Africa champions over ten times in the last 20 years. We will also boast 12 NWU athletes in the South African team at the 26th World Student Games that will take place in Shenzen, China in August this year.”

In September 2012 Sasol, in partnership with the Metsimaholo Local Municipality and Metsimaholo Rejuvenation Trust, embarked on a project to upgrade the stadium. The project replaced the tartan track, repaired flood lights, purchased equipment such as hurdles, replaced the electronic timing device and performed general maintenance to buildings and ablution facilities.

Ends.

Issued by:

Cobus Jansen, Manager Public Affairs: Communication & Corporate Marketing

Direct telephone +27 (16) 960 2646 ; Mobile +27 (0) 82 410 6882

Alex Anderson, Group Media Manager

Direct telephone +27 (11) 441 3295; Mobile +27 (0) 71 600 9605;

alex.anderson@sasol.com

Jacqui O’Sullivan, GM: Group Communication

Direct telephone +27 (11) 441 3252; Mobile +27 (0) 82 883 9697;

jacqui.osullivan@sasol.com