The World Athletics Relays in Botswana are getting closer and closer, and Athletics South Africa (ASA) will on Tuesday announce the final team that will represent the country at the much-anticipated Gaborone 26 biennial event next month.
Team SA put on a show at the 2025 World Athletics Relays in China last year and will undoubtedly look to pick up from where they left off and repeat the feat in Gaborone.
The South African 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.
Many hitherto unknown athletes made a name for themselves in China last week alongside pedigreed names such as Akani Simbine and rising duo Bradley Nkoana and Bayanda Walaza.
Now, Team SA will be making the final push in an attempt to secure the final qualifying spots and expand their presence at the Gaborone 26 on May 2–3 at the National Stadium in the capital of Botswana.
With the qualifiers now officially closed last Sunday, all eyes will now be on ASA and the final relay team that they will bestow with the responsibility to carry the hope of millions of South Africans against some of the best athletes in the world.
A fortnight ago, in Gabs during the Lefika International Relays, South Africa delivered contrasting outcomes as one team edged closer to qualification while another fell agonisingly short, as they were targeting qualification in the mixed and women’s 4x100m events.
South Africa’s mixed 4x100m relay team, featuring Joviale Mbisha, Tamzin Gelant, Retshidisitswe Mlenga and Tsebo Matsoso, produced the more encouraging results, clocking a competitive time.
Recently, ASA held a two-day training camp, where the preparation squad gathered at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).
“We are coming out as world champions, so we need to defend it. We believe we deserved what we got last year, and we can do it again this year. And one important thing is that we don’t think that last year was a fluke,” said SA veteran sprinter Akani Simbine.
“I totally believe that we could be Olympic champions, we could be world champions, and there’s no doubt in that.
“And with the Jamaicans coming through and the Americans … we say let them come, bring your best team, because we are going to come with our best team and compete and be ready to defend our title.”
For many athletes, the Gaborone 26 will serve as a key qualifier for the 2027 World Athletics Championships, marking the first time the premier relay event is hosted on African soil.
- The World Athletics Relays event is approaching and will be held in Gaborone, Botswana next month.
- Athletics South Africa (ASA) will announce its final team for the event on Tuesday.
- The event, known as the Gaborone 26, is a biennial competition.
- The announcement marks the final selection of athletes representing South Africa.
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