South Africa's most talented young track and field prospects will take their opportunity to go
under the spotlight this week when they converge in Cape Town for the ASA U-16, U18, U20 and
U23 Track and Field Championships to be held at Green Point Stadium between 27-29 March
2025.
The line-ups will feature the country's brightest prospects on the track, including some of the
world's most promising sprinters and hurdlers across a range of distances.
In the U23 men's division, the likes of world junior 400m champion Udeme Okon and Olympic
silver medallist Lythe Pillay are expected to light up the track, while all eyes will be on national
senior 100m champion Viwe Jingqi in the U23 women's sprints. Then there’s Chane Kok the 2023
African U20 champion in women’s 100mH Women
In the U20 age group, in-form SA junior 100m and 200m record holder Bayanda Walaza and will
turn out as the favourite in the men's sprints, though he is expected to face a challenge from in-
form athlete Karabo Letebele, who won the men's 100m race at the recent ASA Grand Prix
meeting in Tshwane. Walaza is the U20 champion in 100m and 200m, and an Olympic Games
4x100m silver medallist.
There will also be a lot of attention on versatile 17-year-old star Tumi Ramokgopa, who recently
set a national record in the U20 women's 100m hurdles.
Aiden Smith will be the favourite in the men’s shot put after winning the first leg of the ASA Grand
Prix Series in Tshwane two weeks ago and so is Njabulo Mbatha in the 400mH men who was
decorated with a bronze medal in the 4x400m at the World U20s in 2024. Mbatha showed hisreadiness when the 18-year-old shocked Africa Record holder and defending champion Ferdinand
Omanyala of Kenya in the Tshwane Grand Prix.
Also adding to the glamour are 2024 African champion Brian Raats in men’s high jump and
Benjamin Richardson, a favourite in the 200m men – another soldier decorate at the 2024 African
championships in 4x100m (silver) and 100m (Bronze).
Bradley Nkoana, a bronze medallist at the World U20 and a Olympic 4x100m silver, is amongst the
drawcards in 200m men, alongside Udeme Okon – a World U20 in the 400m and a World 4x400m
silver medallist.
The athletes competing at the ASA U16, U18, U20 and U23 Championships will have an
opportunity to qualify for multiple major championships to be held later this year.
These events include the ASA Senior Championships, to be held in Potchefstroom between 24 and
26 April 2025, as well as the African Athletics U20 Championships in Algeria next month and the
World athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.
“It’s going down in Cape Town this week,” said James Moloi, the President of Athletics South
Africa. “These are exciting times. We can safely predict that a minimum of two national records
will fall. It’s just a question of which one.
“We look forward to what promises to be another super time of action in South African athletics
where new champions will be unearthed and the contest for supremacy will keep us on our feet.
Tickets will also be available at the gates daily or online at webtickets.
For details click here:
https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1566010673
