The South African team enjoyed a spectacular start to the World Athletics U20 Championships on Tuesday, with multiple athletes delivering memorable performances on the opening day of competition in Lima, Peru.
After launching a personal best of 20.01m in the qualifying round of the men’s shot put, JL van Rensburg went even bigger in the final, securing the national squad’s first medal.
Landing the shot at 20.74m in the medal contest, Van Rensburg took the runner-up spot to secure the SA team’s first podium place at the global junior showpiece.
His compatriot, Hencu Lamberts, ended 11th in the final with a 18.38m throw, after setting a career best of 19.00m in the qualifying round.
Van Rensburg was just two centimetres short of gold medallist Jarno van Daalen of the Netherlands, who won the final with a best heave of 20.76m.
Other results
In other events, five South African athletes kept their medal hopes alive on day one of the global junior championships.
Sprinters Bradley Nkoana, Bayanda Walaza and Viwe Jingi booked their spots in the 100m finals to be held on day two.
Nkoana (10.27), Walaza (10.28) and Jingqi (11.61) all won their first-round 100m heats in the morning session.
In the evening session, Nkoana finished second in his semifinal in 10.30 and Walaza won his race in 10.33, while Jingqi was third in her semifinal in 11.49.
Middle-distance runners Matthew Burnett and Carise van Rooyen also did well to put up a fight.
Burnett took fourth position in his 800m heat in 1:50.16 and Van Rooyen was fourth in her 800m heat in 2:07.51. Both athletes will compete in the two-lap semifinals on day three.
Schedule of SA athletes competing on day two (Wednesday 28 August)
Early session
4.10pm – 400m hurdles women, heats (Hannah van Niekerk, Tumi Ramokgopa)
5.05pm – 400m hurdles men, heats (Ntiyiso Nkanyani, Njabulo Mbatha)
5.30pm – high jump men, qualification (Tshepang Dankuru, Luke van der Merwe)
6.05pm – 400m women, heats (Precious Molepo, Chane Vermeulen)
7pm – 400m men, heats (Bryan Katoo, Udeme Okon)
Late session
11.10pm – 1500m men, heats (Johannes Morepe, Dumisani Motloung)
11.45pm – 1500m women, heats (Li-Mari Dekker, Naledi Makgatha)
12.20am – 400m men, semifinals (Katoo, Okon)
12.45am – 400m women, semifinals (Molepo, Vermeulen)
1.30am – 100m women, final (Viwe Jingqi)
1.45am – 100m men, final (Bayanda Walaza, Bradley Nkoana)
