Athletics South Africa

ASA ANNOUNCES NATIONAL TEAM FOR WORLD U20 CHAMPIONSHIPS

Athletics South Africa has named a 51-member final national team for the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships to be held in Eugene, Oregon between 5-9 August.

Some changes have been made to the provisional squad announced by the national federation in May. Sprint hurdler Naeem Jack and long jumper Keamogetswe Monyeki, are now unavailable and will not compete at the biennial showpiece. Long jumper Levi Fick and decathlete Daniel von der Heyden have been added to the final team.

The SA team will be confident of putting up a fight against the world's top junior athletes once again, after South Africa finished sixth in the overall table with seven medals (three gold, two silver and two bronze) at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru.

Final SA team:

Men

Marko Ferreira (100m/4x100m relay)
Mukona Manavhela (100m/200m/4x100m relay)
Kryn Romijn (400m/4x400m relay)
Leendert Koekemoer (400m/4x400m relay)
Emil Els (800m)
Werner Gouws (800m)
Tiisetso Malungane (1500m)
Bertus van der Linde (1500m)
Jayden Parkin (110m hurdles)
Matodzi Ndou (400m hurdles/4x400m relay)
Lesibe Dikgale (400m hurdles)
Njabulo Hlatshwayo (5000m)
Siyabonga Mbeleki (3000m steeplechase)
Matao le Roux (high jump)
Kenneth Pooko (high jump)
Tshiamo Motsamai (long jump)
Levi Fick (long jump)
Dewald Benjamin Bezuidenhout (shot put)
Jaco van Dyk (shot put)
Joshua Ge**er (discus throw)
Jan-Hendrik Heymans (javelin throw)
Marques Olivier (javelin throw)
Daniel von der Heyden (decathlon)
Zattu Hlongwane (4x100m relay)
Marlon Kayster (4x100m relay)
Abelines Schoeman (4x400m relay)
Ryno Riekert (4x400m relay)

Women

Faith Konde (100m/4x100m relay)
Rume Burger (100m/200m/4x100m relay)
Sarah Reed (200m/4x100m relay)
Christi Loggenberg (400m/4x400m relay)
Davida Strong (400m/4x400m relay)
Carise van Rooyen (800m)
Lara Stander (800m/1500m)
Andrea Steynberg (1500m)
Tumi Ramokgopa (100m hurdles/400m hurdles/4x400m relay)
Megan Nieman (100m hurdles/400m hurdles/4x400m relay)
Michaela Spocter (high jump)
Ansume de Beer (pole vault)
Oluchi Abelwe Ndubueze (long jump)
Ashlynn Norman (long jump)
Johanne Lamprecht (shot put)
Fortune Cleutus-Okolo (shot put)
Mila Ueckermann (discus throw)
Christé Loedolff (discus throw)
Stephane Hook (javelin throw)
Marine Grobler (javelin throw)
Zoé Cilliers (4x100m relay)
Chrystabel Davis (4x100m relay)
Isabella Gunter (4x400m relay)
Zanté van der Merwe (4x400m relay)

ENDS

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About Athletics South Africa:
Athletics South Africa (ASA) is the national governing body for the sport of athletics (including Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking) in South Africa, is a member of World Athletics and the Confederation of African Athletics. The association was formed in 1995 and is based in Johannesburg.

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ANSUME DE BEER BREAKS NATIONAL POLE VAULT RECORD

Junior athlete, Ansume de Beer, made a spectacular breakthrough on Tuesday, breaking the national women's senior pole vault record.

Competing at the Fribourg International Meeting in Switzerland, 18-year-old De Beer took second place in the women's pole vault competition, clearing the bar at 4.50 metres. The only athlete who went higher was Lene Retzius of Norway who won the competition with a 4.60m clearance.

De Beer broke the 26-year-old South African and African record of 4.42m which was set by Elmarie Gerryts in Germany in June 2000. She also obliterated her own national U20 record of 4.30m which she achieved to win gold at the African Athletics Championships in Ghana earlier this year.

"We get super excited when records are broken, because it points to progress. It's even more of a thrill when a senior record is broken by someone still in the age groups. We congratulate Ansume for also reaching the podium, her coach and support staff for a job well done," said John Mathane, the Acting President of Athletics South Africa.

ENDS

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About Athletics South Africa:
Athletics South Africa (ASA) is the national governing body for the sport of athletics (including Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking) in South Africa, is a member of World Athletics and the Confederation of African Athletics. The association was formed in 1995 and is based in Johannesburg.

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In the men's 100m sprint, Akani Simbine was fourth in a season's best 9.97.

Photo by: Erin Groll

Zakithi Nene (middle) took second place in the men's 400m race in 43.89, dipping under 44 seconds for the second time in his career.

Credit photo to: Erin Groll

NENE DIPS UNDER 44 SECONDS AT PARIS DIAMOND LEAGUE

Zakithi Nene took another step forward in what has been an impressive international season thus far, leading the South African charge at the Diamond League meeting in Paris, France on Sunday.

Nene took second place in the men's 400m race in 43.89, dipping under 44 seconds for the second time in his career. He was just 0.13 outside his personal best (43.76) which he set in Nairobi last year. Up front, world champion Collen Kepinatshipi of Botswana won the race in 43.54, setting a new Diamond League record.

Also competing at the top-flight meeting in the French capital, former world indoor champion Prudence Sekgodiso achieved a breakthrough result in the women's 800m race. Sekgodiso finished fourth in 1:56.83, setting a personal best and running under 1:57.00 for the first time in her career. The two-lap contest was won by in-form Swiss athlete Audrey Werro, who set a Diamond League record of 1:53.80.

In the men's 100m sprint, experienced athlete Akani Simbine was fourth in a season's best 9.97. Former world indoor 60m champion Trayvon Bromell of the United States secured victory in a closely contested battle in 9.91, with the top five men all dipping under 10 seconds.

National record holder Marione Fourie took sixth position in her 100m hurdles heat in 12.66, and she did not progress beyond the opening round.
World record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria went on to win the final in 12.28.

The ninth leg of the 2026 Diamond League series will be held in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday 4 July.

ENDS

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About Athletics South Africa:
Athletics South Africa (ASA) is the national governing body for the sport of athletics (including Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking) in South Africa, is a member of World Athletics and the Confederation of African Athletics. The association was formed in 1995 and is based in Johannesburg.

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Strong partnerships build stronger champions. 🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♂️🔥

Proud to celebrate our incredible partnership with Athletics South Africa (ASA) as we continue the journey of empowering women through the 2026 SPAR Grand Prix Series. Together, we’re inspiring greatness—one race at a time.

WomenInSport RunWithPurpose ASA Athletics South Africa

🎥 LIVE STREAM ALERT! 🏃‍♀️

Catch all the action LIVE tomorrow from 07:30 – 09:30 on the SPAR Grand Prix page! Don’t miss every stride, every sprint, and every unforgettable moment as South Africa’s top athletes take on the SPAR Grand Prix.

Set your reminder and tune in! 📲

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MATWEBU AND SOSIBO WIN HALF-MARATHON TITLES AT ASA ROAD RUNNING CHAMPS

Ngconde Matwebu and Cacisile Sosibo earned their first national senior titles on Saturday, winning the men's and women's half-marathon races at the ASA Road Running Championships in Gqeberha, which was held in conjunction with the Nelson Mandela Bay Half-Marathon.

In the men's 21km contest, Matwebu finished second overall in the open race behind Kenyan athlete Rogers Murei, who won in 1:01:51. Matwebu was the first South African home, earning the national title in a personal best 1:01:57 as he led a KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) sweep of the podium. Behind him, Cwenga Nose grabbed the silver medal in 1:02:17 and Pontsho Motaung took bronze in 1:02:33.

"I think this was the best race of my career because I've been struggling with injuries for the last three years and I haven't been myself, so I'm glad I'm picking up now and I think this is just the beginning," Matwebu said. "It's a wonderful feeling to be a national champion. I feel like I'm dreaming, but I knew today could be my day because the training has been going well and I came here with confidence and passion, feeling I could do it today."

Sosibo was superb in the women's race, pushing Namibian athlete Lavinia Haitope all the way to the line. Haitope won the open race in 1:12:36 and Sosibo was narrowly edged into second place, completing the 21km distance in 1:12:38 to win the golden national title for Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA). Behind her, Karabo Mailula was the second South African, earning silver for Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) in 1:15:16, while Samantha Coetzer (CGA) filled the bottom step on the podium, crossing the finish line in 1:17:02.

"It was a good race, and it was quick, because the weather was fine and the conditions felt comfortable," Sosibo said. "I don't know what the plan will be (in the build-up to the World Athletics Road Running Championships later this year) but I'm going to train hard for that race."

Over other distances on Saturday, Thapelo Ramokhoase won the men's 5km national title in 13:42, holding off a challenge from AGN teammate Musawnkosi Mnisi (13:43). Zenzile Pheko, representing CGA, took third position in 13:44.

In the women's 5km event, Zanthe Taljaard emerged triumphant in the colours of Athletics Vaal Triangle (AVT), completing the race in 16:15. Junior athletes Anke Stander (Boland) and Mpho Katiso (AGN) outclassed most of their senior opponents to take silver and bronze, respectively. Stander ran 16:42 and Katiso clocked 16:48.

In the Mile (1.6km) event, Johannes Morepe secured another gold for KZNA in the men's race, winning a sprint finish in 4:05. Dumisani Motloung bagged silver for Athletics Free State (AFS) in 4:06, with Tshepiso Makobe (AVT) credited with the same time at third position. Pre-race favourite, Karabo More (AGN), lived up to the hype in the women's mile, storming to victory in 4:37. Ntsoaki Molahloe (KZNA) took home the silver medal, finishing in 4:48, and experienced athlete Carina Swiegers (AGN) earned bronze in 4:56.

Based on their positions and times in their respective events, five athletes - Matwebu, Nose, Sosibo, Ramokhoase and More - guaranteed their places in the SA team for the World Athletics Road Running Championships to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark in September.

The event was broadcasted through livestream in the SABC website.

ENDS

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About Athletics South Africa:
Athletics South Africa (ASA) is the national governing body for the sport of athletics (including Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking) in South Africa, is a member of World Athletics and the Confederation of African Athletics. The association was formed in 1995 and is based in Johannesburg.

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Johannes Morepo took the 1mile national title in the Senior Men winning a sprint finish in 4:05 at the 2026 ASA Road Running Championships at Po***ck Beach on 27 June 2026 in Gqeberha, South Africa.

Photo by: Athletics South Africa

Karabo More clocked 4:37 winner of the 1mile Senior Women during the 2026 ASA Road Running Championships at Po***ck Beach on June 27, 2026 in Gqeberha, South Africa.

Photo by: Athletics South Africa