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Lenn Smith Race - where summer confronts winter

- Wits University

The 37th Lenn Smith Campus Race/Walk delivered as promised, igniting energy and highlighting campus connections.

Lenn Smith campus race/walk attracts staff and postgraduate students

The annual event was held during Staff Wellness Week and attracted close 580 runners and walkers on 11 September 2025. The event was held under sunny conditions, starting and ending at the Gavin Relly Green, the home of the Wits champion tree. The 4.2 km course mainly followed the Wits Parkrun held on the Wits campus every Saturday. 

Competitive runners led the way while others tried to keep the momentum with the route which includes the famous West Campus steep. This notorious stretch, is a measure of one’s fitness and also serves as a moment of reckoning where winter indulgences clash with summer ambitions. It is here, between huffs and puffs, many participants vow to change their ways and return to the gym.

The final number finishing was estimated to be over 400, the largest number in the history of the race.

The top finishers were Jesse Alt, Senior Lecturer from the School of Mathematics and Memory Zimuwandeyi, lecturer at the School of Chemistry, who were the first man and women pre-registered to finish. View full results.

The Lenn Smith campus race/walk attracts staff and postgraduate students

Chemistry also pulled a surprise by celebrating Neil Coville, former head of the school, who turned 80 this year, by arriving in T-shirts  with the symbol and name of a ‘new’ element 80Nc (neicovillium). This was to recognise his continued role in the School and in coordinating the Lenn Smith race since its inception.

A New Era of the Race

This year marked a few important changes to the event:

  • Pre-entry and timing system: Participants were required to pre-register, making them eligible for spot prizes and enabling a more efficient scanning system to track finishers’ times and positions.
  • Bigger prizes: Thanks to sponsorships, over 100 spot prizes were up for grabs, ranging from apparel, tech gadgets to a laptop and printer. Sponsors include First Technology, Introstat, Innovent , PC Palace, NTT (Dimension Data), Data Centrix  and HP Computers.
  • An easier course: The revised route was designed to align with the spirit of Staff Wellness Week, emphasising team building and accessibility, while still offering challenges for seasoned runners.

Behind the scenes the Varsity Kudus running club, the Physics Workshop, and dozens of volunteers made sure timing, marshalling, and logistics ran smoothly.

Looking Ahead

As organisers reflected on the success of 2025, they were already setting their sights on the future.

“We’re excited to build on the momentum and the lessons to make the 2026 edition even better” said the organising committee.

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