Njabulo Mbatha capped a brilliant season over the weekend when he helped South Africa’s 4x400m relay team win a silver medal at the Under-20 World Championships in Peru.
What made the 17-year-old TuksSport High School’s performance special is the fact that two hours before the relay final, he competed in the 400m-hurdles final. He missed out by 0.07s on winning the bronze medal. Mbatha finished fourth in a time of 49.68s. Vance Nillson (USA) won. runnig 49.26s.
The South African relay team ran a season-best in the final, clocking 3:05.22. The Americans won in a time of 3:03.56.
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Mbatha made South African sports history when, on his birthday (19 April) during the South African Championships, when he won bronze in the 400m-hurdles final. He turned 17 on the day and is, as far as it could be established, the youngest athlete to have medalled in a senior 400m-hurdles final. His 49.57 is the second fastest in the world by an under-18 athlete this season.
The ACE Trust-sponsored athlete is also the South African under-18 400m-hurdles champion. Mbatha’s winning time of 49.10s is the fastest in the world in a race over the 84cm hurdles. He can boast of not losing one race locally in the age group’s longer hurdles event this season.
Despite these fast times, Mbatha was realistic about what might happen at the Junior Worlds.
“I never think about rankings. The only thing that matters when I race is to be focused on my own race. To execute my technique to perfection. My best traits as a hurdler are my speed, endurance, and ability to switch legs during a race. I can lead with both legs over the hurdles and not lose speed. It is a huge advantage coming into the home straight.”
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Rugby was not always the TuksSport High School’s passion.
“When I was in high school in Durban, I was a keen rugby player. I played as a winger. I did athletics to improve my speed for rugby. It helped because I got selected for the Sharks under-15 Rising Stars team. What decided things for me in the end was that I was starting to win more and more races. So, I chose athletics as my sport, but I believe if chose to I could have excelled in both athletics and rugby.
“I still watch a lot of rugby, but I am not a fan of any specific team. I enjoy good rugby. It does not matter who plays.
The South African Olympian Zakithi Nene is Mbatha’s role model.
“Despite being an Olympic 4x400m-relay finalist, he is so humble. Whenever I need advice, I reach out to him on Instagram. Each time, he would reply. I also admire my coach, Adri Schoeman, for what she has achieved as a 400-metre athlete.”
In season when competing, Mbatha’s favourite pastime is sleeping.
“I believe that when you sleep, you give your body time to recover. Out of season, I love to play basketball with my friends.”
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