The South African Track and Field Championships get under way in Potchefstroom on Thursday, with a glittering array of talent on display.
Beyond medals and titles, the event also serves as an opportunity for athletes who are yet to do so to secure qualification for the upcoming World Athletics Championships, set to take place in Tokyo, later this year.
The championships will be without several big names, including Akani Simbine, Maroane Fourie, Lythe Pillay, and Jo-Ane du Plessis (Van Wyk), as they are set to compete at the Diamond League meeting in Xiamen, China, on Saturday.
World junior champion Bayanda Walaza will be one of the headline acts in the men’s 100m sprint event. The 19-year-old continues to shine as one of South Africa’s brightest young talents, having lived up to every expectation placed on him so far.
Also among those in action will be 2026 Olympic gold medallist and 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk. He ran in the the 200m at Paris 2024, reaching the semi-finals.
In Potchefstroom, he will run at the shorter sprint distance once more. He is also listed on the start lists for the men’s 100m and 4x400m relay, although his participation in those events is not guaranteed.
THURSDAY’S PROGRAMME
- 9:00 Heptathlon – 100m hurdles
- 9:10 Women’s 100m – Heats
- 9:40 Men’s 100m – Heats
- 9:45 Heptathlon – High jump
- 10:10 Women’s 400m – Heats
- 10:15 Women’s long jump – Qualifying
- 10:40 Men’s 400m – Heats
- 11:00 Men’s shot put – Final
- 11:10 Men’s 400m hurdles – Heats
- 11:40 Women’s 400m hurdles – Heats
- 12:00 Men’s high jump – Qualifying
- 1:30 Women’s discus throw – Final
- 1:30 Women’s 100m – Semi-finals
- 1:45 Men’s 100m – Semi-finals
- 2:00 Men’s long jump – Qualifying
- 2:00 Heptathlon – Shot put
- 2:00 Men’s 3000m steeplechase – Heats
- 2:15 Men’s pole vault – Final
- 2:20 Women’s 800m – Heats
- 2:30 Men’s 800m – Heats
- 3:00 Women’s 5000m – Final
- 3:30 Men’s javelin throw – Final
- 4:00 Heptathlon – Women’s 200m
- 4:15 Women’s 100m – Final
- 4:30 Men’s 100m – Final
- 4:40 Mixed 4x400m relay – Final
