The national men’s 4x400m quartet kept their medal hopes alive with the second fastest finish in the heats.
While the other two national teams were unable to reach the final of their events, the SA men’s 4x400m quartet showed their class on the opening day of the race. World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Four round squad – Wayde van NiekerkZakithi Nene, Lythe Pillay and Gardeo Isaacs – were second fastest overall in the first heat with a time of 3:59.76.
They were just 0.03 behind a strong Botswana team – Letsile Tebogo, Leungo Scotch, Isaac Makwala and Bayapo Ndori – who won the same heat in 3:59.73.
Although the Botswana quartet is still the favorite on paper, south Africa has the quality and depth to compete for gold in the final, as they target the nation’s first medal at a global athletics championship since 2019.
By confirming their place in the final (which will be held on Monday at 4.20am) they also secured their place in the final Olympic Games in Paris in August.
Other results
Meanwhile, the SA men’s 4x100m relay team was unable to maximize its potential, finishing third in its heat with a time of 38.83.
The quartet – Clarence Munyai, Bayanda Walaza, Akani Simbine and Benjamin Richardson – failed to secure a place in the final.
The mixed 4x400m team – Zeney Geldenhuys, Mthi Mthimkulu, Shirley Nekhubui and Antonie Nortje – were also unable to progress, finishing third in their heat in 3:15.95.
Both the men’s 4x100m and mixed 4x400m squads will appear again in the Olympic qualifying rounds on Monday morning, with automatic spots still up for grabs for the events. Paris Match.