The SA junior team got off to a spectacular start at the Southern Region Under-20 Championships, raking in 25 medals on the opening day of competition in Lusaka, Zambia on Friday.
The national squad earned multiple medals in 10 disciplines, securing two podium places in the men’s 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, shot put and javelin throw, as well as the women’s 100m, 400m, 800m, 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles and discus throw.
Heptathlete Nienka du Toit was the top performer, bagging one gold medal and two silvers.
The regional championships, which ends on Saturday, is being used as final trials for the national junior team to compete at the World U-20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland next month.
SA medallists on day one of the Southern Region U-20 Championships in Lusaka (17 June, 2016):
Men
Gift Leotlela – gold, 100m (10.47)
Derrick Mokaleng – gold, 400m (47.17)
Kabelo Melamu – gold, 10 000m (31:12.76)
Mpho Tladi – gold, 110m hurdles (13.89)
Kefilwe Mosimanegape – gold, 400m hurdles (51.87)
Jason van Rooyen – gold, shot put (19.50m)
Johan Grobler – gold, javelin throw (74.72m)
Thabo Maganyele – silver, 110m hurdles (14.26)
Werner Visser – silver, shot put (18.03m)
Erich Wiese – silver, javelin throw (72.90)
Masego Sesele – bronze, 400m hurdles (54.14)
Women
Tamzin Thomas – gold, 100m (11.37)
Jeanelle Griesel – gold, 400m (54.45)
Simonay Weitsz – gold, 800m (2:08.03)
Taylon Bieldt – gold, 100m hurdles (13.70)
Gezelle Magerman – gold, 400m hurdles (59.18)
Nienka du Toit – gold, high jump (1.66m)
Yolandi Stander – gold, discus throw (48.54m)
Madia Ehlers – silver, 100m (11.58)
Armoure le Roux – silver, 400m (55.59)
Liza Kellerman – silver, 800m (2:12.12)
Nienka du Toit – silver, 100m hurdles (15.05)
Belindi van der Merwe – silver, 400m hurdles (60.66)
Nienka du Toit – silver, long jump (5.44m)
Leandri Geel – silver, discus throw (48.24m)