Local stars make history at World Athletics Relay Championships
Four athletes from the Tuks Athletics Club, who were all part of the South African 4x100m relay team, won the country's first gold medal at this championship this past weekend.
South Africa secured its first ever gold medal at the World Athletics Relay Championships, with the national 4x100m team delivering a memorable performance in the final in Silesia, Poland on Sunday night.
Taking over in second place on the final leg, SA record holder Akani Simbine managed to chase down the Brazilian team in the home straight. With Simbine dipping on the line in 38.71, the SA quartet that also included Thando Dlodlo, Gift Leotlela and Clarence Munyai — all four of their local Pretoria athletes — secured victory and the gold medal by 0.01 against Brazil.
Brazil, however, was later disqualified, giving Italy the silver medal in 39.21.
Photo: Twitter
In the men’s 4x400m final, junior prodigy Lythe Pillay, Zakithi Nene, Oscar Mavundla and Ranti Dikgale took fifth position.
Having progressed as the third quickest team in the heats the day before, they completed the four-lap race in 3:05.76 and have automatically qualified for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan scheduled for 23 July 2021.
The national mixed 4x400m team – Ranti Dikgale, Simon Khuzwayo, Deline Mpiti (woman) and Taylon Bieldt (woman) – were sixth in their heat in 3:19.18 on Saturday’s opening day of competition and therefore did not qualify for a place in the final.
Both the women athletes are local girls from TuksAthletics.
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