It was a golden night for South African athletics as they won three medals, including two golds, at the World Relay Championships in Guangzhou, China. The men’s quartet claimed gold in both the 4x100m and 4x400m, while the women picked up bronze in the 4x400m.
Bayanda Walaza, Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nkoana and Akani Simbine had set the stage when Simbine chased down American Brandon Hicklin to hit the line in 37.61sec, the fastest time in the world this year and 0.05sec ahead of the US athlete.
Zeney van der Walt then anchored the women’s 4x400m team to bronze before Gaerdeo Isaacs, Udeme Okon, Leendert Koekemoer and Zakithi Nene combined to give South African another gold medal, in 2:57.50 which is also the quickest time in the world this year.
All these South African teams will be back in action at the World Track and Field Championships in Tokyo this year, where they will be looking to again dominate on the global stage.
MIXED 4x400m
Heats
Tumisang Shezi, Shirley Nekhubui, Leendert Koekemoer and Zeney van der Walt finished second in their heat behind Great Britain, in 3:13.79, to automatically qualify for the final. They were eighth fastest overall.
Final
Mthi Mthimkulu, Jada van Staden, Tumisang Shezi and Hannah van Niekerk finished fifth in 3:16.29, with the gold going to the United States.
MEN’S 4x100m
Heats
Bayanda Walaza, Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nkoana and Akani Simbine were impressive winners of their heat in a world leading 37.84, with Jamaica failing to finish after dropping the baton. South Africa head to the final as joint fastest qualifiers with Japan and 0.02sec ahead of the United States.
Final
GOLD! Bayanda Walaza, Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nkoana and Akani Simbine teamed up again to take the gold medal in 37.61, the fastest rime of the year and edging the United States by 0.05sec.
MEN’S 4x400m
Heats
Mthi Mthimkulu, Udeme Okon, Lythe Pillay and Zakithi Nene won their heat in exactly 3:00.00 which is the fastest time in the world this year and they head into Sunday’s final as the fastest qualifiers
Final
GOLD! Gaerdeo Isaacs, Udeme Okon, Leendert Koekemoer and Zakithi Nene teamed up to win the gold medal in 2:57.50, with Nene pulling well clear of Belgium and Botswana in the final straight.
WOMEN’S 4x400m
Heats
Shirley Nekhubui, Hannah van Niekerk, Precious Melepo and Zeney van der Walt won their heat in 3:28.01 which was a new South African record and the seventh fastest going into Sunday’s final
Final
BRONZE! Shirley Nekhubui, Miranda Coetzee, Precious Melepo and Zeney van der Walt broke the South African recod again, this time lowering the mark to 3:24.84 as they claimed the bronze medal behind Spain and the United States.
