Team SA snatches 3 medals at World Athletics Relays Championships

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa snatches three medals at the World Athletics Relays Championships in Guangzhou, China.

Athletics South Africa sent 19 South African athletes to compete across four events: the men’s 4x100m, men’s and women’s 4x400m, and the mixed 4x400m.

By reaching the finals, all four South African teams automatically qualified for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.

Akani Simbine, Bayanda Walaza, Sinesipho Dambile and Bradley Nkoana won the country’s first gold medal in the men’s 4x100m.  Crossing the finish line in 37.61, ahead of reigning world champions US and Olympic champions Canada.

This is the first time that an African country has won the 4x100m.  

On Saturday, South Africa and Japan both clocked a world-leading time of 37.84s during the heats to set up the final, which included reigning Olympic champions Canada.

The second gold medal came from the men's 4x400m Relay with Gaerdeo Isaacs, Udeme Okon, Leendert Koekemoer and Zakithi Nene working well together.

In the women’s 4x400m Relay final, Shirley Nekhubui, Miranda Coetzee, Precious Molepo and Zeney van der Walt clocked a national record 3:24.84 to win bronze.

In the mixed 4x400m Relay, South Africa (3:16.29) crossed the line 5th, with the gold going to the United States.