Tuks student Tumi Ramokgopa delivered a world-class performance at the South African Junior Athletics Championships this past weekend by winning the 100m hurdles in 12.93s.
Tumi Ramokgopa 🇿🇦 runs a PB of 12.93s (0.9) in the U20 women's 100mH at the South African Age Group Championships!
— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) March 27, 2026
Only the 2nd African U20 ever to break 13 seconds after Tobi Amusan (12.83) in 2016.pic.twitter.com/WZwwSZrp0H
This is currently the third fastest time in the world. Only Marione Fourie (Tuks), who ran 12.80s, and Australia's Michelle Jenneke, who ran 12.85s, are faster.
Ramokgopa's winning time is a new South African under-20 record. At 18, she is also the youngest athlete in the history of South African women's athletics to dip under 13 seconds. It is a feat achieved by only four other athletes: Fourie, Taylon Bieldt, Rikenette Steenkamp and Corien Botha.
It is noteworthy to know that four of South Africa's five sub-13-second hurdlers have done so in the colours of TuksAthletics.
Ramokgopa not only excelled in the 100m hurdles. She also won the 400m hurdles. Her winning time of 56.05 is currently one of the three fastest in the world in senior athletics. It is the second consecutive time that she has won both hurdles events at the championships. So far, she is unbeaten in both hurdle events this season.
Ramokgopa believes she can achieve even faster times, but she emphasises that she is not in a hurry.
"All that matters to me is to know that every time I compete, I gave it my all. I want to keep improving. It is also important for me to seize every opportunity that comes my way.
"The big goal is to win a medal at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships Oregon '26. In 2024, I finished third in the semifinals in the 400m hurdles. So to me, this is the year of redemption."
If she needs to choose between the 100m and 400m hurdles, which would it be?
"Tumi is short in stature. That is a disadvantage, especially in the short hurdles. Tumi will compete in both events as long as she can. The short hurdles help her run the 400 m hurdles. I expect her to reach higher levels in the longer event as her career advances," said her coach, George Bradley.
Ramokgopa is not the only Tuks athlete to excel at the SA Junior Championships. Hannah van Niekerk is the South African under-23 champion in the 400m (52.36s) and the 400m hurdles (57.18s). Her winning time in the 400 metres is a personal best.
Matodzi Ndou set a South African under-20 400m-hurdles record, winning in 48.64s. Carise van Rooyen was victorious in the women's under-20 800 metres race, winning in 2:04.57.
Zante van der Merwe finished second in the under-20 women's 400m race and has the satisfaction of having set a new personal best. Hannah Hope-Vermaak finished second in both the 100m (11.72s) and 200m (24.00s).