SA athletics stars out to end medal drought at World Athletics Champs in Tokyo

South Africa’s top athletics talent will take on the world’s best at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo from Friday, with the second of five travelling parties departing from OR Tambo International Airport on Monday.

A number of the 49 athletes who will represent SA at the showpiece, second only in stature to the Olympics, will be in action in the opening session on Saturday. Jessica Groenwald lines up in the women’s 35km race walk, while Aiden Smith and Chris van Niekerk contest the men’s shot put qualification round.

The men’s 100m preliminary round will also be one of the highlights of the morning, featuring Akani Simbine, Bayanda Walaza (subject to a late fitness test) and Gift Leotlela.

Marie Viljoen, Precious Molepo and Hannah van Niekerk join men’s one-lap specialists Udeme Okon, Gardeo Isaacs, Leendert Koekemoer and Mthi Mthimkulu in the 4x400m mixed relay team, with the heats closing the first session.

In the evening, Danielle Nolte competes in the women’s long jump qualifiers, while Kyle Rademeyer takes part in the men’s pole vault qualifiers.

Medals will be decided in the men’s shot put final and the 4x400m mixed relay, where TeamSA have a genuine chance of breaking through, based on impressive recent showings at the World Athletics Relays and World University Games. A golden generation of SA sprinters has also become a fixture on podiums across the globe.

Day two’s morning session brings the men’s 1500m heats, where Tshepo Tshite and Ryan Mphahlele are in action, along with Marione Fourie in the women’s 100m hurdles.

Later that day, the men’s 100m semi-finals and final take centre stage. Simbine is considered a solid medal prospect thanks to his consistency this season, while Walaza — if fit — could spring a surprise. Leotlela, meanwhile, has found form late in the campaign.

Long-distance specialist Adriaan Wildschutt will be one to watch in the men’s 10000m final, aiming for the podium after finishing 10th at the Paris Olympics.

Day two also sees 400m heats for Zakithi Nene and Lythe Pillay, as well as Shirley Nekhubui and Miranda Coetzee in the women’s programme. The women’s long jump final takes place in the evening, while Brian Raats hopes to progress in the men’s high jump qualifiers.

South Africa failed to secure a medal at the last World Athletics Championships in Budapest in 2023, but with a strong squad in Tokyo, they are well placed to end a drought stretching back to Doha in 2019.