The South African team opened their campaign in spectacular fashion on Wednesday, securing top spot in the medals table after the first day of competition at the World U-18 Championships in Nairobi.
Competing in wet conditions, sprinters Tshenolo Lemao and Retshidisitswe Mlenga earned gold and silver in the boys’ 100m final.
The duo scooped the nation’s first ever medals in a world championship event over the short-sprint distance, with Lemao taking gold in 10.57, holding off Mlenga by just 0.04.
Jamaican speedster Tyreke Wilson settled for bronze in 10.65.
“It feels good to win the first gold of the championship for South Africa,” Lemao said afterwards.
“I came prepared for the race after finishing second in my semifinal.”
On the infield, Meike Strydom was in the form of her life, producing a personal best heave of 16.40m to finish fifth in the girls’ shot put final.
In the girls’ 3 000m final, Dipuo Mashishi struggled to put up a fight in tough conditions, though she gritted her teeth and pushed hard to take 12th place in 11:06.60.
Sprinters Rose Xeyi (12.18) and Joviale Mbisha (12.27) also displayed good form in the girls’ 100m heats, with both athletes progressing to Thursday’s semifinals.
In the boys’ 800m heats, Ntuthuko Ndimande went out hard but struggled to mount a challenge down the finishing straight.
He took fourth position in his race in 1:56.16 and missed out on a place in the final.
Earlier, in the morning session, Tharina van der Walt booked her place in the girls’ discus throw final, to be held on Friday.
She launched a 48.81m heave with her first attempt in the qualifying round, progressing automatically to the medal contest.
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SA youth team bag two medals
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