South Africa’s men’s 4x100m relay heroes, again anchored by Akani Simbine, stormed to the silver medal behind the USA at the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone. The other men’s finalists, the 4x400m, also picked up silver, behind hosts Botswana, and did so in a new South African record time.
Apart from the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m qualifying on Saturday for the 2027 World Athletics Championships, the mixed 4x400m also qualified for the global showpiece when finishing second in their Sunday heat.
SOUTH AFRICA’S RESULTS (Day 2)
SILVER! Men’s 4x100m, final: Moss Mvuyo, Cheswill Johnson, Bradley Nkoane and Akani Simbine finished second in a national record 37.49, with the USA winning in 37.43.
SILVER! Men’s 4x400m: Mthi Mthimkulu, Lythe Pillay Leendert Koekemoer and Zakithi Nene finished second in the final in a national record 2:55.07. Botswana won in a championship record 2:54.57, with South Africa holding off Australia.
Mixed 4x400m: Gardeo Isaacs, Rogail Joseph, Bradley Maponyane and Marlie Viljoen finished 2nd behind Canada in a time of 3:12.77 and qualified for the 2027 World Athletics Championships.
Women’s 4x400m: Precious Molepo, Christi Lobbenberg, Jada van Staden and Hannah van Niekerk finished 3rd in their heat in a season’s best 3:27.78, behind winners Poland. That left them 6th overall from the heats and out of contention for the 2027 World Athletics Championships.
Women’s 4x100m: Viwe Jingqi, Kayla la Grange, Gabriella Marais and Joviale Mbisha finished 4th in their heat, won by France, in 43.56. That left them 7th overall from the heats and out of contention for the 2027 World Athletics
(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 them 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.
Photo: Anton Geyser
