SA's relay stars chase redemption and glory

SOUTH Africa’s elite sprint units are heading to the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone this May with a dual mission: defending their global crowns and banishing the ghosts of a heartbreaking World Championships in Tokyo.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

(FROM left) South Africa's Lythe Pillay, Zakithi Nene, Udeme Okon and Wayde Van Niekerk pose after finishing third in the men's 4x400m relay final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.

(AFP)

Despite their status as Olympic silver medallists, the men’s 4x100m quartet of Shaun Maswangani, Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nkoana, and Akani Simbine endured a nightmare in Japan. After being impeded in their heat, the team failed to finish. A subsequent appeal granted them a rare solo time-trial to qualify for the final, but their time of 38.64 fell agonisingly short of the 38.34 target.

Now, the squad is bolstered by the return of teenage sensation Bayanda Walaza. The Olympic silver medallist was instrumental in the team’s gold-medal run at last year’s World Relays in Guangzhou but was sidelined from the Tokyo showpiece due to injury.