SA juniors fly the flag high with 11-medal haul at IAAF World Champs

JOHANNESBURG: Emphasising the country’s rise in global athletics, South Africa finished at the top of the log at the IAAF World Under-18 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.

South Africa’s small team bowed out of the age-group championships five gold, three silver, and three bronze medals.

Sprint duo Tshenolo Lemao and Retshidisitswe Mlenga finished 1-2 in the 100m and 200m.

Lemao won the short sprint earlier in the week with Mlenga in second place with times of 10.57 seconds and 10.61 respectively.

Yesterday they swopped positions with Mbenga dipping first in 21.03 with Lemao crossing second in 21.12.

It was Super Saturday that gave the South African team the edge, winning three gold medals and a bronze.

Diminutive high jumper Breyton Poole improved his personal best by six centimetres, clearing 2.24m for the title.

Poole, who is 1.72m tall came within a centimetre of Jacques Freitag’s national youth best.

Overwhelming pre-championships favourite Sokwakhana Zazini did not disappoint as he annihilated the rest of the field to win the 400m hurdles in 49.27 – almost three seconds clear of his nearest rival.

It proved to be golden 400m hurdles double for South Africa with Zeney van der Walt snatching victory in the dying yards from Jamaica’s pre-race favourite Sanique Walker, 58.23 to 58.27.

South African medallists:

Gold: Tshenolo Lemao (100m) Retshidisitswe Mlenga (200m) Breyton Poole (high jump) Zeney van der Walt (400m hurdles) Sokwakhana Zazini (400m hurdles) Silver: Tshenolo Lemao (200m) Retshidisitswe Mlenga (100m) Johannes Schlebusch (javelin throw) Bronze: Jonathan de Lacey Lacey (shot put) Morne Brandon (discus throw) Mixed 4x400m (Mlenga, Gontse Morake, Zazini, Van der Walt)