TRACK & FIELD
Akani Simbine on his unexpected disqualification .
Before the meet , Wayde spoke of the challenges he has faced , leading to some self-doubt , but when the racing began , he was ready for business . Having qualified comfortably in the first round , he scraped through as a fastest loser form the semi-final , and that was unfortunately an omen of what was to come in the final . Entering the last 100m , he was lying fourth , looking like he might be able to pull himself into the medals , but instead , he dropped back to seventh . He was distraught after the race , and spoke of needing time to process this disappointment .
Wayde van Niekerk on needing time to process his final result .
The 4x100m relay team , with a line-up of Shaun Maswanganyi , Benjamin Richardson , Clarence Munyai , and Akani Simbine , posted a season best 37.72 in their opening round heat , finishing second behind the Italians ( 37.65 ) and fifth-fastest overall in the qualifying round . They went into the final with the same line-up , full of confidence ( as can be seen from the video interview after the first round ), but the exchange between Richardson and Munyai saw the baton dropped and the team failed to finish the race . This was even more disappointing when one remembers that the same thing happened at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 , whereas the team made it all the way round the track at the 2021 World Relay Champs and the 2022 World Champs ( finishing sixth ).
The SA 4x100m Relay Team on happy vibes after qualifying for the final .
Focusing on the Positives
While it is all too easy to focus on missed medals , there were a number of positive results for Team South Africa at these World Champs . For starters , Luxolo Adams ( 20.15 season best ) and Sinesipho Dambile ( 20.28 personal best ) left it all on the track in the men ’ s 200m , and one can ’ t ask for more from an athlete than performing better than they have in the lead-up to the meet .
Luxolo Adams , Sinesipho Dambile and Shawn Maswanganyi on their successful 200m heats .
Team SA Report Card
Ed ’ s Note : This list contains all the athletes who represented South Africa at the 2023 World Champs in Budapest . While few made finals , or even semi-finals , and the words “ did not advance ” appear next to most names , which paints a negative picture of their performances and sounds critical , it cannot be stressed enough that just qualifying to compete on the world stage puts these athletes amongst the top 50 to top 100 or so athletes in the world in their specific events . Appearing at the World Champs is a massive feather in the cap for any athlete , even if some only judge athletes on whether they win medals or not .
Men ’ s Sprints & Hurdles
• Akani Simbine ( 100m ) – 9.97 in heat ( 1st ), disqualified in semi ( technical false start ).
• Benjamin Richardson ( 100m ) – 10.17 in heat ( 4th ), did not advance .
• Shaun Maswanganyi ( 100m ) – 10.21 in heat ( 4th ), did not advance .
• Luxolo Adams ( 200m ) – 20.15 ( season best ) in heat ( 3rd ), 20.44 in semi ( 6th ), did not advance to final .
• Sinesipho Dambile ( 200m ) – 20.34 in heat ( 3rd ), 20.28 ( personal best ) in semi ( 4th ), did not advance to final .
• Shaun Maswanganyi ( 200m ) – 20.56 in heat ( 3rd ), 20.65 in semi ( 7th ), did not advance to final .
• Wayde van Niekerk ( 400m ) – 44.57 in heat ( 1st ), 44.65 in semi ( 3rd – through as a fastest loser ), 45.11 in final ( 7th ).
• Zakithi Nene ( 400m ) – 44.88 in heat ( 4th – through as a fastest loser ), 45.64 in semi ( 6th ), did not advance to final .
• Lythe Pillay ( 400m ) – 45.58 in heat ( 4th ), did not advance .
• Antonio Alkana ( 110m hurdles ) – 14.25 in heat ( 9th ), did not advance .
• 4x100m Relay – 37.72 ( season best ) in heat ( 2nd in heat , 5th overall ), dropped baton in final and did not finish .
Men ’ s Middle & Long Distances
• Ryan Mphahlele ( 1500m ) – 3:39.16 in heat ( 10th ), did not advance .
• Tshepo Tshite ( 1500m ) – 3:46.79 in heat ( 2nd ), 3:32.98 in semi ( 7th ), did not advance to final .
• Adrian Wildschutt ( 10,000m ) – 28:21.40 to finish 14th
• Tumelo Motlagale ( Marathon ) – 2:21:33 to finish 51st .
• Simon Sibeko ( Marathon ) – 2:31:11 to finish 60th .
In the men ’ s 1500 , Tshepo Tshite only missed qualification for the final by 0.01 seconds , and it was an excellent World Champs debut that promises much for the future . Another great tactical performance came from Adrian Wildschutt in the men ’ s 10,000m , where he finished 14th in 28:21 , fighting right to the end after putting in one of the best strategic runs by a South African at this meet . Considering that he has broken the SA Records for 3000m , 5000m and 10,000 this year , much is expected of this young man in coming years .
• Melikhaya Frans ( Marathon ) – DNF , bailed around 32km .
• Wayne Snyman ( 35km walk ) – 2:35:13 to finish 21st .
Men ’ s Field Events
• Burger Lambrechts Jnr ( Shot Put ) – 19.52 in qualifying round ( 24th ), did not advance .
• Kyle Blignaut ( Shot Put ) – 18.82 in qualifying round ( 34th ), did not advance .
• Victor Hogan ( Discus ) – 61.80 in qualifying round ( 27th ), did not advance .
• Douw Smit ( Javelin ) – 75.03 in qualifying round ( 27th ), did not advance .
• Cheswill Johnson ( Long Jump ) – 7.61 in qualifying round ( 26th ), did not advance .
• Kyle Rademeyer ( Pole Vault ) – 5.70 ( equalled PB ) in qualifying round ( 15th ), did not advance .
Women ’ s Sprints & Hurdles
• Zeney van der Walt ( 400m ) – 51.76 in heat ( 3rd ), 51.54 in semi ( 8th ), did not advance to final .
• Miranda Coetzee ( 400m ) – 52.30 in heat ( 7th ), did not advance .
• Marlie Viljoen ( 400m ) – 53.73 in heat ( 8th ), did not advance .
• Marione Fourie ( 100m Hurdles ) – 12.71 in heat ( 3rd ), 12.89 in semi ( 6th ), did not advance to final .
• Taylon Bieldt ( 100m Hurdles ) – 13.05 in heat ( 7th ), did not advance .
• Zeney van der Walt ( 400m Hurdles ) – 55.21 in heat ( 5th – through as a fastest loser ), 55.49 in semi ( 8th ), did not advance to final .
Women ’ s Middle & Long Distances
• Prudence Sekgodiso ( 800m ) – 1:59.72 in heat ( 2nd ), 2:11.68 in semi ( 8th ) after falling , did not advance to final .
• Carina Viljoen ( 1500m ) – 4:11.02 in heat ( 12th ), did not advance .
• Irvette van Zyl ( Marathon ) – 2:37:54 to finish 45th .
Women ’ s Field Events
• Mirè Reinstorf ( Pole Vault ) – Missed minimum qualifying height , did not advance .
• Ischke Senegal ( Shot Put ) – 16.20m in qualifying ( 16th ), did not advance .
• Yolandi Stander ( Discus ) – 53.39m in qualifying ( 34th ), did not advance .
• Jo-ane van Dyk ( Javelin ) – 60.09m in qualifying ( 10th ), 57.43m in final to finish 10th overall .
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