Athletics South Africa (ASA) has officially announced its final 70-member team, a formidable assembly of the continent’s most promising young athletes, for the upcoming CAA African U18 and U20 Championships. The highly anticipated event is set to take place in Abeokuta, Nigeria, from 16 to 20 July 2025.
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The robust squad comprises 14 girls in the U18 division and 19 women in the U20 age group, alongside 17 U18 boys and 20 U20 men. This comprehensive selection underscores South Africa’s commitment to showcasing its athletic prowess on the continental stage.
World-Class Talent Leads the Charge
The team is spearheaded by none other than U20 world champion Bayanda Walaza, who will be a strong contender in the junior men’s 100m event. Walaza’s inclusion highlights South Africa’s ambition to secure top honours.
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Other key athletes in the junior men’s team aiming for gold include Njabulo Mbatha, who impressed with a fourth-place finish in the 400m hurdles at last year’s World Athletics U20 Championships, and the rising long jump star, Temoso Masikane.
The junior women’s team boasts an array of in-form athletes. This includes Tumi Ramokgopa, set to compete in both the U20 women’s 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles, Alicia Khunou in the junior women’s shot put, and sprinter Hannah Hope Vermaak, who will take to the blocks in the 100m and 200m sprints.
Among the exciting U18 contingent, keep an eye on SA senior women’s 200m champion Rume Burger, who is expected to deliver a strong performance in the half-lap event. Also a notable inclusion is the in-form 110m hurdler Phenyo Miyen, who recently clocked an impressive time of 12.91 in a solo effort at the ACNW Open meeting in Potchefstroom, signaling readiness for the challenge.
A Mandate to Defend the Continental Title
James Moloi, the President of ASA, articulated the team’s clear objective: “This is our final team, whose sole mandate is to defend the continental title and carry our honour in West Africa. We want this competition to produce us new champions, new records and world leads. The battle will not be easy and it never is, but we trust that the spirit of champions will carry us forward to reach the podium.”
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Full Squad List
Here’s the detailed breakdown of the South African team for the CAA African U18 and U20 Championships:
U20 Men
Bayanda Walaza (100m)
Sibongakonke Makhaza (200m)
Sihle Mahlangu (400m)
Werner Gouws (800m)
Leehanro Arendse (1 500m)
Amogelang Tatai (3 000m)
Realeboga Smith (5 000m)
Naeem Jack (110m hurdles)
Njabulo Mbatha (400m hurdles)
Alfonso Jordaan (3 000m steeplechase)
Onwabile Rawu (10 000m walk)
Lee Rothman (pole vault)
Temoso Masikane (long jump)
Gibbor Basila (triple jump)
Hencu Lamberts (shot put)
Wesley Badenhorst (discus throw)
Eben Jacobs (hammer throw)
Ewald Jansen (javelin throw)
Dirk Coetzee (decathlon)
Karabo Letebele (4x100m)
U18 Boys
Mukona Manavhela (100m/200m)
Jaeger Coetzee (400m)
Emil Els (1 500m)
Olebogeng Mogapi (3 000m)
Phenyo Miyen (110m hurdles)
Stiaan Myburgh (400m hurdles)
Leon Stoltz (2 000m steeplechase)
Kgotso Nkosi (5 000m walk)
Mateo le Roux (high jump)
Kayden Toresson (pole vault)
Jayden Fourie (long jump)
Hanno de Klerk (triple jump)
Walter van Rensburg (shot put)
Joshua Gerber (discus throw)
Francois Pietersen (hammer throw)
Jacobus van der Merwe (javelin throw)
Jean van der Berg (decathlon)
U20 Women
Hannah Hope Vermaak (100m/200m)
Colene Scheepers (400m)
Carise van Rooyen (800m)
Andrea Steynberg (1 500m)
Lara van der Merwe (3 000m)
Lize de Jager (5 000m)
Tumi Ramokgopa (100m hurdles/400m hurdles)
Elizma le Roux (3 000m steeplechase)
Lee-Sue Nyathi (10 000m walk)
Mia Davel (high jump)
Martha Nkosi (high jump)
Ansume de Beer (pole vault)
Matsidiso Makgato (long jump)
Qaadirah Crous (triple jump)
Alicia Khunou (shot put)
Chirste Loedolff (discus throw)
Anje Holtzhausen (hammer throw)
Nicole Barnard (javelin throw)
Cara Smith (heptathlon)
U18 Girls
Oluchi Ndubueze (100m/long jump)
Rume Burger (200m)
Daniela Viljoen (800m)
Minke Dekker (1 500m)
Bokang Manamela (5 000m)
Nokuthula Mthethwa (100m hurdles)
Jade Doran (2 000m steeplechase)
Jordan Spolander (high jump)
Lira Barnard (pole vault)
Sichel Peens (pole vault)
Skyler van Dyk (triple jump)
Mila Ueckermann (discus throw)
Nicola van der Merwe (javelin throw)
Anja Smit (heptathlon)
The South African contingent will depart for Nigeria with high hopes, aiming to build on past successes and make their mark on the continent’s premier youth athletics event
