Bayanda Walaza and Bradley Nkoana lived up to the hype in the early hours of Thursday morning, wrapping up an impressive podium double on day two of the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru.
Walaza and Nkoana, who earned relay silver medals in the 4x100m relay at the recent Olympic Games in Paris, shone again in the men’s 100m final at the global junior showpiece.
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Scorching over the line in 10.19 seconds, Walaza won gold, while Nkoana took bronze in 10.26. They were separated by Puripol Boonson of Thailand who snatched the silver medal in 10.22.
In the women’s 100m final, national junior record holder Viwe Jingqi was fifth in 11.57. She improved on her sixth-place finish at the previous edition of the World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali two years ago.
Other events
Meanwhile, fellow sprinter Udeme Okon stayed in the hunt in the men’s 400m event.
Okon finished second in his semifinal in 47.08, progressing to the medal battle on day three.
In the women’s 400m semifinals, Precious Molepo was eighth in her race in 54.55 and she missed out on a spot in the final.
Earlier, in the women’s 400m heats, Chane Vermeulen finished fourth in her contest in 54.49, just 0.01 shy of a place in the semifinals.
Middle-distance runner Johannes Morepe grabbed second position in his first-round 1 500m heat, clocking 3:45.10 and earning a spot in the final to be held on Saturday.
His compatriot, Dumisani Motloung, went quicker but he finished seventh in his heat in 3:44.53 and he was eliminated.
In the men’s high jump. Tshepang Dankuru and Luke van der Merwe both managed to keep their medal hopes alive.
Dankuru sailed over the crossbar at 2.12m and Van der Merwe cleared 2.09m, booking their places in the final to be contested on Friday.
In the 400m hurdles heats, three South African athletes progressed beyond the first round.
Tumi Ramokgopa, who turned 17 this week, won her heat in 58.04 and Hannah van Niekerk was second in her race in 58.44, while Njabulo Mbatha secured victory in his first-round race in 51.42. They were all set to compete in the semifinals to be held on Friday.
After two days of competition in Lima, the South African team were in a tie for third position in the overall table with three medals (one gold, one silver and one bronze).
Schedule of SA athletes, day three (Thursday 29 August)
Early session
4.25pm – 100m hurdles women, heats (Lana Oberholzer, Roline Louw)
5.20pm – 110m hurdles men, heats (Wihan Kemp)
6.15pm – 200m women, heats (Viwe Jingqi, Chane Vermeulen)
6.45pm – long jump men, qualification (Temoso Masikane)
7.10pm – 200m heats, men (Bayanda Walaza, Bertie Cruywagen)
Late session
10pm – 100m hurdles women, semifinals (Oberholzer, Louw)
10.30pm – 110m hurdles men, semifinals (Kemp)
10.55pm – 800m women, semifinals (Carise van Rooyen)
11.20pm – 800m men, semifinals (Matthew Burnett)
11.47pm – 200m women, semifinals (Jingqi, Vermeulen)
12.10am – 200m men, semifinals (Walaza, Cruywagen)
1.50am – 400m men, final (Udeme Okon)
