A large group of 76 athletes have been included in Athletics South Africa’s preparation squad for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
The squad consists of 50 men and 26 women, including 61 track and field athletes and 16 marathon runners.
Packed with quality and experience, the group features six athletes who have earned Olympic Games or World Championships medals in individual, team or relay events.
They are Akani Simbine (100m), Shaun Maswanganyi (100m), Wayde van Niekerk (400m), Jo-Ane van Dyk (javelin throw), Elroy Gelant (marathon) and Stephen Mokoka (marathon).
Simbine and Maswanganyi formed part of the 4x100m relay team that earned silver at this year’s Olympics in Paris, and Van Dyk also bagged a stunning silver medal in the French capital, while Van Niekerk is a two-time world champion and a former Olympic champion.
Gelant and Mokoka were both members of the SA squad that secured the team bronze medal in the half-marathon at last year’s World Road Running Championships in Riga.
All athletes in the preparation squad will need to achieve the qualifying criteria to be included in the final national team.
The 2025 World Athletics Championships will be held in Tokyo between 13-21 September next year.
ASA preparation squad
Men
Akani Simbine (100m)
Shaun Maswanganyi (100m)
Benjamin Richardson (100m)
Sinesipho Dambile (200m)
Wayde van Niekerk (400m)
Lythe Pillay (400m)
Zakithi Nene (400m)
Edmund du Plessis (800m)
Renier de Villiers (800m)
Rynard Swanepoel (800m)
Tshepo Tshite (1500m)
Ryan Mphahlele (1500m)
Luan Munnik (1500m)
Maxime Chaumeton (5000m)
Jerry Motsau (5000m)
Adriaan Wildschutt (10000m)
Sanele Masondo (10000m)
Sibusiso Kubheka (10000m)
Denmar Jacobs (110m hurdles)
John Adesola (110m hurdles)
Mondray Barnard (110m hurdles)
Le Roux Hamman (400m hurdles)
Lindukuhle Gora (400m hurdles)
Sabelo Dhlamini (400m hurdles)
Siboniso Soldaka (3000m steeplechase)
Tumisang Monatlala (3000m steeplechase)
Aphelele Nkonyeni (3000m steeplechase)
Jovan van Vuuren (long jump)
Cheswill Johnson (long jump)
Divan Manuel (long jump)
Kyle Rademeyer (pole vault)
Brian Raats (high jump)
Breyton Poole (high jump)
Keegan Fourie (high jump)
Kyle Blignaut (shot put)
Francois Prinsloo (discus throw)
Victor Hogan (discus throw)
Alan Cumming (hammer throw)
Tshepang Makhethe (hammer throw)
Rocco van Rooyen (javelin throw)
Elroy Gelant (marathon)
Mathews Leeto (marathon)
Stephen Mokoka (marathon)
Pheeha Mokgobu (marathon)
Melikhaya Frans (marathon)
Lesetja Papo (marathon)
Tumelo Motlagale (marathon)
Puseletso Mofokeng (marathon)
Milton Kekana (marathon)
Adam Lipschitz (marathon)
Women
Viwe Jingqi (100m/200m)
Shirley Nekhubui (200m/400m)
Miranda Coetzee (200m/400m)
Prudence Sekgodiso (800m)
Charne Swart (800m)
Carina Viljoen (1500m)
Glenrose Xaba (5000m/10000m)
Marione Fourie (100m hurdles)
Taylon Bieldt (100m hurdles)
Zenéy Geldenhuys (400m hurdles)
Rogail Joseph (400m hurdles)
Miré Reinstorf (pole vault)
Nicole Janse van Rensburg (pole vault)
Danielle Nolte (long jump)
Timeke-Jade Coetzee (long jump)
Mine de Klerk (shot put)
Ashely Erasmus (shot put)
Colette Uys (discus throw)
Yolandi Stander (discus throw)
Jana van Schalkwyk (javelin throw)
Jo-Ane van Dyk (javelin throw)
Glenrose Xaba (marathon)
Cian Oldknow (marathon)
Dominique Scott (marathon)
Irvette van Zyl (marathon)
Gerda Steyn (marathon)
* Featured image of Akani Simbine by Cecilia van Bers
Good Stuff
Super excited about this good news.