South Africa's most talented young track and field prospects will be under the spotlight this week when they converge in Cape Town for the ASA U16, U18, U20 and U23 Track and Field Championships to at Green Point Athletics Stadium from 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.

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 showed his readiness when the 18-year-old shocked African record holder and defending champion Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya during the 100m dash in the Tshwane Grand Prix.

Walaza, who is on song, is the U20 World champion in 100m and 200m, and an Olympic Games 4x100m silver medallist.

A lot of attention will be 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 - decorated with a bronze medal in the 4x400m at the World U20s in 2024.

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 decorated at the 2024 African senior championships in 4x100m (silver) and 100m (Bronze).
Bradley Nkoana, a bronze medallist at the World U20 and an Olympic 4x100m silver recipient, is amongst the drawcards in 200m men, alongside Udeme Okon - a World U20 champion 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 

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About Athletics South Africa:
Athletics South Africa (ASA) is the national governing body for the sport of athletics (including Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking) in South Africa, is a member of World Athletics  and  the Confederation of African Athletics.  The association was formed in 1995 and is based in Johannesburg.

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