Akani Simbine and Zeney van der Walt were the big winners on Friday night at the 2022 Athletics South Africa Awards ceremony at Thaba Eco Resort in Johannesburg. 

Simbine was named Male Athlete of the Year after earning 100m silver medals at the African Championships in Mauritius and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and taking fifth place in the final at the World Championships in Eugene. 

Van der Walt was named Female Athlete of the Year after winning the 400m hurdles title at the African Championships, taking bronze at the Commonwealth Games and reaching the semi-finals at the World Championships. 

In other categories, rising sprint star Benjamin Richardson was unveiled as the Male Prospect of the Year and javelin thrower Mckyla van der Westhuizen was announced as the Female Prospect of the Year. 

In the junior division, 400m sprinter Lythe Pillay was named as the U20 Male Athlete of the Year and versatile field events prodigy Mine de Klerk was named U20 Female Athlete of the Year. 

Simbine's long-time mentor, Werner Prinsloo, was deservedly named Coach of the Year after his charge produced the best results of any senior athlete in the country.