The national team produced South Africa's best overall result in 22 years at the World Athletics U20 Championships which came to a close in Cali, Colombia on Saturday night.

Though it was not their biggest medal haul at the biennial junior spectacle, the SA squad finished fifth in the final standings with five medals (two golds, one silver, two bronze).

It was the squad's best result in the medals table since the SA team finished third at the 2000 edition in Santiago, Chile.

Finishing fifth in the final, the national men's 4x400m relay team produced the best result for the squad on the sixth and last day of competition. Tjaart van der Walt, Lythe Pillay, Karabo Madonsela and Divan Vlok combined to complete the four-lap final in 3:07.01, with the United States securing victory in 3:04.47.

In other events, Danielle Verster finished ninth in the women's 1 500m final (4:16.36), Aron Alvarez Aranda was ninth in the men's discus throw final (59.36m) and Karabo Motsoeneng was 18th in the women's 5 000m final (18:35.51).

"We ought to be happy with this overall performance which sees us finishing sixth. In a competition that was so tough for everyone, we are proud that many of our athletes reached the semi-finals and finals.

"It's a major achievement for South Africa's future and we believe that this is now the core that is about to take over the senior level as most of our senior athletes will soon be facing the end of their careers," said Enoch Skhosana, the Acting President of Athletics South Africa.

Tjaart van der Walt, Lythe Pillay, Karabo Madonsela and Divan Vlok combined to complete the four-lap final in 3:07.01, with the United States securing victory in 3:04.47.

* On Day 5, the SA women's 4x400m relay quartet - Precious Molepo, Anje Nel, Colene Scheepers and Simone de Wet - ended fourth in their heat in 3:36.52 (and not 3.56.32) to break the South African U20 record.

SA medallists:

Mine de Klerk - gold (shot put), bronze (discus throw)

Lythe Pillay - gold (400m)

Brian Raats - silver (high jump)

Benjamin Richardson - bronze (100m).

* On Day 5, the SA women's 4x400m relay quartet - Precious Molepo, Anje Nel, Colene Scheepers and Simone de Wet - ended fourth in their heat in 3:36 (and not 3.56.32). They also broke the South African U20 record.