It was a successful day for South Africa on the opening day of the World Relay Championships in Gaborone with both the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m winning their heats and qualifying for both Sunday’s final as well as the 2027 World Athletics Championships.
SOUTH AFRICA’S RESULTS (DAY 1)
Heats
Mixed 4x400m: Gardeo Isaacs, Rogail Joseph, Lythe Pillay and Marlie Viljoen finished 5th behind winners Great Britain in a season’s best 3:11.19.
Women’s 4x100m: Viwe Jingqi, Kayla la Grange, Gabriella Marais and Joviale Mbisha finished 4th in a national record 43.22 in a heat won by China. They were 10th fastest overall, with Jamaica being fastest.
Men’s 4x100m: Moss Mvuyo, Cheswill Johnson, Bradley Nkoane and Akani Simbine won their heat in a season’s best 37.66 to qualify for the 2027 World Athletics Championships and 3rd fastest qualifiers overall behind Canada and Germany.
Women’s 4x400m: Precious Molepo, Christi Lobbenberg, Hannah van Niekerk and Marlie Viljoen finished 4th in their heat in a season’s best 3:26.77, behind winners Great Britain. That left then 9th overall from the heats.
Men’s 4x400m: Udeme Okon, Mthi Mthimkulu, Leendert Koekemoer and Zakithi Nene won their heat in a season’s best 2:58.04 to qualify for the 2027 World Athletics Championships and 3rd fastest qualifiers overall behind Australia and Botswana.
