After putting on a show at the 2025 World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, it is safe to say that the future of South African track and field is full of promise and in good hands.
The SA relay runners set the Guangzhou scene alight when they clinched double gold and a bronze medal in 4x100m and 4x400m (men and women) finals respectively last week.
All the South African teams will be back in action at the World Track and Field Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in September, where Team SA will be looking to dominate on the global stage once again.
Many hitherto unknown athletes made a name for themselves in China last week alongside pedigreed names such as Akani Simbine, Bradley Nkoana and Bayanda Walaza. Walaza broke into the scene at the Paris Olympics last year, featuring prominently in the silver medal-winning relay team.
Udeme Okon (19):
Udeme Okon was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and South African mother.
He is an U20 400m champion after clinching gold last year at the World U20 Athletics Championships in Peru.
The 19-year-old recently got offered a scholarship by UJ Athletics once he completes his matric at Florida High School in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg. He is the brother of PSL footballer Ime Okon, who plays for Betway Premiership side SuperSport United.
Precious Molepo (20):
Precious Molepo was part of the SA women’s 4x400m relay team that ran a national record time of 3:24.84 and walked away with a bronze medal in China.
Molepo (20) won gold in the 4x400m relay at the 2022 African Athletics Championships in Saint Pierre, Mauritius.
Shirley Nekhubui (24):
Another 2k who is making a name for herself on the global stage as she helped steer the SA women’s team to a podium finish in the 4x400m relay is Shirley Nekhubui.
She is a University of Johannesburg Athletics Club member who hails from Venda, Limpopo.
Nekhubui lined up alongside Miranda Coetzee, Zeney van der Walt and Molepo in their record-breaking showing in Guangzhou.
Sinesipho Dambile (23):
The two-time and reigning 200m national champion Sinesipho Dambile is one runner to look out for in the future and surely “the next big thing,” just like senior athletes Clarence Munyai and Simbine previously proclaimed.
Dambile is a 200m sensation who has proven to be a prolific runner on any given day and is trained by the African Coach of the Year, Thabo Matebedi, alongside 100m national champion Gift Leotlela and Olympic silver medallist Walaza.
Recently, the 23-year-old missed his father’s funeral on the eve of winning his second national 200m title at the SA Track and Field Championships in Potchefstroom last month.
Leendert Koekemoer (17):
Leendert Koekemoer, from the Helpmekaar College, became the 10th South African junior athlete early this year to run 400m under 46 seconds. He climbed to eighth position in the all-time national rankings.
The 17-year-old was the youngest in the men’s 4x400m relay team that stormed to victory when he handed the baton to Zakithi Nene, who powered Team SA comfortably across the finish line. Gardeo Isaacs and Okon made the rest of the team.
Zeney van der Walt (24)
When you speak of versatility, Zeney van der Walt’s name should be included there as she not only sprints but also specialises in hurdling.
Van der Walt previously won the 2022 African Championship in 400m and the 4×400 metres relay with the women’s team.
The 24-year-old anchored the women’s 4x400m team to bronze in China and will be key heading to Tokyo’s World Track and Field Championships.
