Track & Field

An experienced international runner, Sonel is beginning to emerge among the top distance runners on the squad following dramatic improvements during her first cross country season...was a middle-of-the-year addition to the Tech track & field program in 2014-15, joining the roster in January in time for the spring semester...she has competed in one season of track & field (2015) and her initial season on the cross country squad in the fall...has the potential to be an outstanding collegiate distance runner.

AT TECH (IN 2015-16): Ran in all seven meets during the 2015 cross country season...was fourth on the team in the first four meets, as well as at the NCAA Regional...finished third on the team at the OVC race when she ran her 5K career-best time of 19:09.1, which ranks as the 36th fastest 5K time in school history.

(IN 2014-15): Enrolled at Tennessee Tech in January and joined the track & field team in time to train and compete throughout the indoor and outdoor seasons...ran the mile, 3,00m and 5,000m during indoor season, and the 1,500m, 3,000m and 5,000m outdoors...top time at 3,000m was 10:43.19 outdoors at Vanderbilt...best time at 5,000m came at Austni Peay outdoors with an 18:50.7 effort...registered Tech's best time at 3,000m both indoors and outdoors, and team's top 5,000m outdoor performance.

BEFORE TECH: Began her running career in eighth grade, competiting initially in the 1,500m run...coached throughout high school by Dion Saayman, whose inspiration and guidance led her into regional and national competition, a level achieved by ranking among the top 12 in her age division...in 2013, she was ranked 8th nationally for girls under 17, and in 2014 she was 10th in the country for Junior Women runners.

PERSONAL: The daughter of Cornel and Sonja Bezuidenhout...born July 2996 in Dundee, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa...studying pre-physical therapy.