SA teams shatter records to grab two silver medals at World Relays

The national squad obliterated multiple records on Sunday, earning silver medals in the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m finals at the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone.

Though they did not retain the global titles they won last year, both teams broke new ground.

In the men’s 4x400m final, Mthi Mthimkulu, Lythe Pillay, teenager Leendert Koekemoer and anchor athlete Zakithi Nene took second place in the 4x400m final in 2:55.07.

They completed the four-lap race half-a-second behind host nation Botswana who won gold in 2:54.47. The national squad broke the SA record, with Botswana setting a new African record.

The two quartets climbed to the No 2 and No 3 spots in the all-time rankings (behind the world record of 2:54.29 held by the United States) and South African sprinter Lythe Pillay set the quickest 400m relay split ever recorded. Pillay covered his leg in 42.66, which was nearly three tenths of a second faster than American legend Michael Johnson ran on a relay leg back in 1993.

“Who would have thought 2:55 would get you a silver medal?! We were ready to battle it out with the guys and we knew it was going to take something very special to win the race, but I’m super proud of the boys,” Nene said afterwards.

“The boys really stepped up and delivered what they needed to – what was expected of them and more – and I’m super proud of the national record we ran.”

4x100m final

In the men’s 4x100m final, Mvuyo Moss, Cheswill Johnson, Bradley Nkoana and Akani Simbine completed the one-lap contest in 37.49.

Despite missing some injured first-choice stars including Gift Leotlela, Bayanda Walaza and Sinesipho Dambile, they finished just 0.06 behind the United States squad who won gold in 37.43.

“I’m proud of the guys for showing up. I knew they were going to be able to do it,” said Simbine, the national 100m record holder.

“Yesterday I was chatting with Bradley (Nkoana) at the dinner table and I said, ‘you know, I think we can actually run an African record’. These guys are doing what they need to do, and they’re running crazy well, and they’re in shape, so why not?

“I didn’t want to put pressure on us but I expected an African record. Yes, we wanted to get the gold medal and defend our title, but we came out here, we ran well, we had an amazing time, and we can’t ask for anything more.”

Earlier at the World Relays championship, on Saturday, Viwe Jingqi, Kayla la Grange, Gabriella Marais and Joviale Mbisha finished fourth in their heat in 43.22.

Though they didn’t reach the final, they too set a South African record.