SOUTH Africa will be represented by a strong team at the World Athletics Relays to be held in Gaborone, Botswana, next month.
The governing body for athletics in the country, Athletics South Africa, has announced the list of players who will go to this competition which will be held on the continent of Africa for the first time, which will involve experienced runners.
The local team came out on top in Guangzhou, China, last year where they won gold in the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m, and bronze in the women’s 4x400m.
Bayanda Walaza, Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nkoana and Akani Simbine won the 4x100m with 37.61.
This time, Dambile, Nkoana, Simbine will return, with Retshidisitswe Mlenga and Tsebo Matsoso, and Cheswill Johnson will be added as Bayanda Walaza is absent.
The 4x400m team of Gardeo Isaacs, Udeme Okon, Leendert Koekemoer and Zakithi Nene came out on top in the final with 2:57.50.
It has not changed much this year since there are still Isaacs, Okon, Koekemoer, Nene and Lythe Pillay who was part of the team last year, then Wayde van Niekerk, who holds the world record in the 400m distance, was added.
The women’s 4x400m team that finished third in 3:24.84 last year had Shirley Nekhubui, Miranda Coetzee, Precious Molepo and Zenéy Geldenhuys in the final.
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Molepo has been included in the 4x400m mixed women’s and men’s team where he will run with Mia de Beer, Rogail Joseph, Mthi Mthimkhulu, Daniel Briel and Antonie Nortje.