The World Athletics Championships are under way in Tokyo where a squad of 48 athletes are representing South Africa.
Gift Leotlela was the star act on Day 1, with a sensational personal best time of 9.87 seconds seeing him top the time sheets in the men’s 100m heats.
This is how South Africa fared on Saturday:
While Leotlela was the eye-catcher, there was an African record for the mixed 4x400m relay team which qualified sixth fastest for the final. They then finished sixth in the final.
Men’s shot putters Aiden Smith and Chris van Niekerk were unable to progress to the final, while the same fate befell women’s long jumper Danielle Nolte.
DAY 1 RESULTS
Men’s 100m heats: Gift Leotlela won his heat in a personal best 9.87, which was also the fastest of all 56 sprinters who entered.
Men’s 100m heats: Akani Simbine won his heat in 10.02, which saw him progress to the semi-finals with the eighth fastest time.
Men’s 100m heats: Retshidisitswe Mlenga was seventh in his heat in 10.42, which placed him 49th overall and he did not go through to the next round.
Mixed 4x400m relay, heats: Team SA (Gardeo Isaacs, Miranda Coetzee, Leendert Koekemoer and Zeney van der Walt) finished third in their heat behind the USA, running an African record 3:11.16 and qualified for the final in sixth place.
Mixed 4x400m relay, FINAL: Team SA (Gardeo Isaacs, Shirley Nekhubui, Leendert Koekemoer and Zeney van der Walt) finished sixth behind the USA, with a time of 3:11.89.
Men’s shot put, qualification, Group A: Aiden Smith placed 16th with a distance of 19.32m and didn’t proceed to the final.
Men’s shot put, qualification, Group B: Chris van Niekerk placed 13th with a distance of 18.81m and didn’t proceed to the final.
Women’s long jump, qualification, Group B: Danielle Nolte placed 18th with a distance of 5.79m and didn’t proceed to the final.
Women’s 35km race walk FINAL: Jessica Groenewald finished 34th in 3:16:03, with only 38 of the 47 starters completing the course.
Team SA squad
Men
Akani Simbine (100m), Gift Leotlela (100m), Sinesipho Dambile (200m), Naeem Jack (200m), Wayde van Niekerk (200m), Zakithi Nene (400m), Lythe Pillay (400m), Tshepo Tshite (1 500m), Ryan Mphahlele (1 500m), Adriaan Wildschutt (10 000m), Elroy Gelant (marathon), Mondray Barnard (110m hurdles), Antonio Alkana (110m hurdles), John Adesola (110m hurdles), Sabelo Dhlamini (400m hurdles), Kyle Rademeyer (pole vault), Brian Raats (high jump), Cheswill Johnson (long jump), Aiden Smith (shot put), Chris van Niekerk (shot put), Victor Hogan (discus), Douw Smit (javelin), Wayne Snyman (20km race walk), Bradley Nkoana (4x100m), Retshidisitswe Mlenga (4x100m), Abduraghmaan Karriem (4x100m), Shaun Maswanganyi (4x100m), Udeme Okon (4x400m mixed), Gardeo Isaacs (4x400m mixed), Leendert Koekemoer (4x400m mixed), Mthi Mthimkulu (4x400m mixed)
Women
Shirley Nekhubui (400m), Miranda Coetzee (400m), Prudence Sekgodiso (800m), Charne Swart-Du Plessis (800m), Marione Fourie (110m hurdles), Zenéy van der Walt (400m hurdles), Rogail Joseph (400m hurdles), Miré Reinstorf (pole vault), Danielle Nolte (long jump), Ashley Erasmus (shot put), Miné de Klerk (shot put), Colette Uys (shot put), Jo-Ane du Plessis (javelin), Jessica Groenewalt (35km race walk), Marie Viljoen (4x400m mixed), Precious Molepo (4x400m mixed), Hannah van Niekerk (4x400m mixed)
Which athletics event is your favourite?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
