Leotlela, Smith steal show on day one of Champs

GIFT Leotlela powered his way into a national men’s 100m title on day one of the Athletics South Africa Senior Championships at the Puk McArthur Stadium in Potchefstroom on Thursday.

- OBAKENG MELETSE

Leotlela (9.95) ran the fastest time heading into the final, and although it was wind-assisted, he went into battle for the medals as the man to beat, in a final that would possibly require a faster time than the times set in qualifying.

Bayanda Walaza, who has shown previously that he’s fully capable of breaking the 10-second mark with a career best time of 9.99 seconds, also eased into the semi-finals of the men’s 100m earlier in the day.

He backed his performance with yet another impressive showing to qualify for the final in an unofficial time of 10.02, winning his semi-final race ahead of the exciting Karabo Letebele (10.22) and Paris silver medalist winner Bradley Nkoana (10.25), who finished third but was not fast enough to make the final.