The SA 4x100m relay team – Akani Simbine, Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nkoana and Shaun Maswanganyi – secured bronze in their solo bid to reach the final in Tokyo. Image credit: Anton Geyser/Athletics South Africa
The SA Men’s relay team on their performance in Tokyo
(The Post News) – South Africa’s men’s sprinters ended their World Athletics Championships on a strong note, securing a bronze medal in the men’s 4x400m relay in Tokyo on Sunday.
The team of Lythe Pillay, Udeme Okon, Wayde van Niekerk and Zakithi Nene clocked 2:57.83, the same official time as the United States, who claimed silver. In a nail-biting finish, they missed out on second place by just 0.002 seconds, with Botswana taking gold in 2:57.76.
Pillay, a former world junior champion, expressed his excitement: “It is still sinking in. I am thrilled, and this would not have been possible without the team.” He also acknowledged the vital roles played by heat runners Leendert Koekemoer, Gardeo Isaacs, and reserve Mthi Mthimkulu, saying: “They were part of this medal too. This was a victory for all seven of us.”
Nene, who finished fifth in the individual 400m final, added: “The guys did their part perfectly, and I was glad to deliver mine. I’m proud of my brothers, and we’re excited about what lies ahead.”
South Africa’s men’s 4x100m relay team, Shaun Maswanganyi, Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nkoana, and Akani Simbine, missed the final after a collision with Italy in the heats. Granted a solo rerun, they posted 38.64 seconds, just missing the qualifying mark of 38.34.
“It is one of those moments where you don’t know whether to cry or celebrate as if it is gold,” said Athletics South Africa president James Moloi. “This medal proves that South Africa still has more to give on the world stage.”
Elsewhere on the track, history was written in the sprints. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden became only the second woman to secure a world sprint treble, securing the US 4x100m relay team to gold after winning the 100m and 200m titles. She started the race in pouring rain before passing to Twanisha Terry, with Kayla White handling the bend and Sha’Carri Richardson sealing the victory in 41.75 seconds.
“I achieved what I set out to do individually, and to come back and win alongside my teammates, my training partners makes it even more special,” said Jefferson-Wooden.
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