Akani Simbine leading next SA generation at World Relays

CLAIMING a silver medal at last year’s Paris Olympics heralded a new era in South African sprinting, and they hope to go for gold at this year’s world championships.

- ASHFAK MOHAMED

But having achieved amazing success in the French capital, the road to the global event in Tokyo in September for Team South Africa will start this weekend at the World Relays in Guangzhou, China.

Top of the medal chase for SA will be the men’s 4x100m group, which will be led by Akani Simbine, and he will be supported by fellow Paris medallists Bayanda Walaza and Bradley Nkoana, as well as Sinesipho Dambile, Retshidisitswe Mlenga and Tsebo Matsoso.

The men’s 4x400m team includes current SA champion Zakithi Nene - who clocked a new personal best of 44.22 recently — as well as world junior 400m champion Udeme Okon, former world junior winner Lythe Pillay, Gardeo Isaacs, Tumisang Shezi and Mthi Mthimkulu.

The women’s 4x400m squad will be made up of Miranda Coetzee, Zeney Geldenhuys, Hannah van Niekerk, Shirley Nekhubui, Precious Molepo and Jada van Staden.

Isaacs, Coetzee and Nekhubui will compete in the mixed 4x400m event, along with junior star Leendert Koekemoer.