SA athletics stars out to end medal drought

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 yesterday.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

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.