Athletes Pitch

03/09/2026

9.89s!!🔥

Bayanda Walaza 🇿🇦 stormed to an equal Personal Best (PB) of 9.89s (+0.6) to win the men's 100m at the Serbia Athletics Meeting!

He equalled his PB from July this year, beating Kadrian Goldson 🇯🇲 who ran 10.04s and Jerome Blake 🇨🇦 in 10.06s.

02/09/2026

In Case You Missed It: Meet Micah Africa, the Fastest 16 Year Old in Africa

When Paarl’s Micah Africa won the 100m gold medal at the 4th African Youth Games in Luanda, he did not celebrate right away. He was not sure if he had won because it was a close race. When he did find out, he calmly picked up the phone, called his mom, and only then, began celebrating with both him and his mom going crazy over the phone.

With a time of 10.67 seconds, Micah is now Africa’s fastest young 100 meter sprinter. This is a massive improvement on his time when, in March of 2025, he broke the South African record for boys under 16, with a time of 10.73 seconds. The previous record was at 10.88 seconds.

With his friendly, calm and humble demeanor, Micah is described as a star in the making and a potential contender for Olympic gold. For now, however, he is focused on qualifying for next year’s Youth Olympics. As for the Olympic Games in 2028, he says that he is keeping his head down, working hard and “trusting in the plans God has for me”.

* Originally published on 31 August 2025

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31/08/2026

Die belowende tiener-naelloper Leendert Koekemoer het Sondag met ’n sensasionele vertoning in die 400 m die Suid-Afrikaanse o. 20-rekord aan flarde gehardloop vir ’n skitteroorwinning in Italië.

📌 Lees meer deur die skakel: https://brnw.ch/21x5kfD

31/08/2026

25/08/2026

25/08/2026

SPORT STAR OF THE YEAR!

Some athletes compete. Then some athletes inspire a nation.

Akani Simbine has been crowned Sport Star of the Year, a fitting recognition for an athlete whose speed, consistency and determination have made him one of South Africa's most celebrated sporting stars.

Congratulations, Akani Simbine.

25/08/2026

🇿🇦 SA HOCKEY WOMEN BEAT CHILE 3-2 AT THE WORLD CUP! 🏑

Congratulations to the South African women who came from behind twice to take down a higher-ranked Chile side on Sunday morning in Pool G.

🥅 Molikoe – 22'
🥅 Mokoena – 35'
🥅 Maree – 48'

⸻
🗣️ "Three goals, one comeback, and a win over a side ranked above them!
Congrats Ladies" – 🎙️Jay
⸻

🎙️

23/08/2026

Tshepo Tyantini Wins in Bhubaneswar 🇿🇦🔥

Tshepo Tyantini wins the 100m in a new personal best of 10.11! 🥇

The South African sprinter delivered a superb performance at the World Athletics Silver Level Continental Tour meeting at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India.

A new PB and a victory on the international stage!

23/08/2026

South Africa’s Leading U20 Men’s 400m Times of 2026

South Africa’s U20 men’s 400m has produced some outstanding performances in 2026, led by Leendert Koekemoer, who has established himself as the country’s fastest junior over the distance.

Koekemoer holds the South African U20 record with 44.94 seconds and has enjoyed a remarkable international season, winning bronze in the 400m at the World U20 Championships in 44.96 — his second time breaking the 45-second barrier.

Kryn Romijn is second on the national list with 45.79, having won the South African U20 title. Abelines Schoeman, the U20 silver medallist, follows with 45.88.

Ryno Riekert sits fourth with 46.03, while Stiaan Myburgh completes the top five with 46.22.

🇿🇦 Leading South African U20 Men’s 400m Times — 2026

1. Leendert Koekemoer — 44.94 🇿🇦 SA U20 Record | 🥉 World U20 Bronze
2. Kryn Romijn — 45.79 🥇 SA U20 Champion
3. Abelines Schoeman — 45.88 🥈 SA U20 Silver Medallist
4. Ryno Riekert — 46.03
5. Stiaan Myburgh — 46.22

Koekemoer’s 44.94 SA U20 record and World U20 bronze medal highlight a breakthrough season, while the depth behind him shows the strength of South African junior 400m running in 2026. 🇿🇦🔥

23/08/2026

South Africa’s Leading U20 Women’s 800m Times of 2026

South Africa’s U20 women’s 800m scene is showing exciting depth in 2026, led by Carise van Rooyen, who tops the season list with an impressive 2:03.44.

Van Rooyen is also the South African U20 champion, underlining her position among the country’s leading young middle-distance athletes.

Lara Stander, only 16 years old, is second on the list with 2:05.76 and is the South African U18 champion. She is followed by Andrea Steynberg, who has recorded 2:06.30.

Another 16-year-old, Jesse Nell, sits fourth with 2:06.73. Nell claimed silver at the South African U18 Championships.

Completing the top five is Lise-Marie Jansen van Rensburg, also just 16 years old, with 2:08.27.

🇿🇦 Leading South African U20 Women’s 800m Times — 2026

1. Carise van Rooyen — 2:03.44 🥇 U20 SA Champion
2. Lara Stander — 2:05.76 🥇 U18 SA Champion — 16 years old
3. Andrea Steynberg — 2:06.30
4. Jesse Nell — 2:06.73 🥈 U18 SA Silver Medallist — 16 years old
5. Lise-Marie Jansen van Rensburg — 2:08.27 — 16 years old

The performances highlight the depth of South African women’s middle-distance running, with three 16-year-olds featuring inside the country’s top five U20 times for 2026.

With Van Rooyen leading the way and a talented group of younger athletes developing rapidly, the future of South African women’s 800m looks promising. 🇿🇦🔥