Rising duo tipped to set track ablaze
Mlenga, Lemao ones to watch
Forget Akani Simbine and Wayde van Niekerk for now, the newest generation of SA’s sprint talent has emerged.
This is set to come to the fore at the IAAF World U18 Championships in Kenya today.
In Retshidisitswe Mlenga and Tshenolo Lemao – both 17 – the country has potential medallists who could take the Nairobi youth global competition by storm, if the pair’s steady rise is anything to by.
They dominated the 100m and 200m with 1-2 respectively, at the SA Youth Championships in Cape Town in April.
They also made a statement a few days later by sizing up Simbine and Van Niekerk as far as in the semifinals at the senior national championships in Potchefstroom.
Mlenga and Lemao’s speed has even caught the attention of sprinter Clarence Munyai, the 19-year-old Rio Olympian who is well-placed to comment on his Athletics Gauteng North provincial team mates.
“They both really train hard and are very hungry to be the best. They are also very competitive, which is good because it pushes both of them. That’s what got both of them this far,” vouched SA and African record holder Munyai.
Munyai, who is set to debut at the senior world championships in London next month, attends Tuks High School in Pretoria with Lemao.
While Munyai and Gift Leotlela have already graduated to the senior ranks, the spotlight shifts to Mlenga and Lemao in the 100m finals in Nairobi today (from 8.55am).
The Bloemfontein-born pair will double with the 200m, while Mlenga has also been entered in the relay.