Both Wayde van Niekerk and Sinesipho Dambile booked their places in the 200m semifinals in Tokyo on Wednesday, while Tsepho Tshite finished ninth in his first-ever World Championship final. By Karien Jonckheere
The 1500m national record holder was delighted to be promoted to the final following Cole Hocker’s semifinal disqualification. And although Tshepo admitted he was unhappy with his early positioning, he relished the chance to line up again, going on to finish ninth in 3 minutes 35.50.
“This is a great booster because now I can believe that it’s possible for me to compete with these guys… The way I ran the heats and semis it shows that I’m on a level with them,” he said afterwards.
Earlier in the evening, Wayde had eased through his 200m heat, looking relaxed as he crossed the line in second place in 20.19 seconds.
“It was comfortable. But I think there was a lot of rust that needed to come off today as well, so I think it was a strong start to the race and then just trying to see it through,” said the 400m world record holder who is only contesting the shorter sprint at these championships.
“I think I’m really just trying to soak in the moment and just going off everything day by day and today was a positive one so regroup and get ready for tomorrow.”
After a nerve-racking start after narrowly avoiding disqualification for twitching in his blocks, Sinesipho booked his spot in the semifinals after finishing third in his heat in 20.27 seconds.
“I was calm because I knew it wasn’t a false start, I knew I didn’t move [my feet],” he explained.
“I think through the rounds I get better… I know I’m in great shape, so in the semifinal I’ve got to make sure that I unleash everything.”
Meanwhile, Zenéy van der Walt finished seventh in her 400m hurdles semifinal in a time she wasn’t pleased with after bumping into the athlete next to her twice during the race.
“I’m not that happy [with the time], but I’m still blessed that I could represent South Africa in the semifinals at the world champs,” she said.
There was more disappointment for Team SA’s field athletes, with Douw Smit’s effort of 81.23m in javelin qualification not enough to see him through to the final.
Zakithi Nene kept his medal quest very much on track by coasting through to the 400m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Tuesday. By Karien Jonckheere
The KZN star looked to be in complete control as he claimed victory in his semifinal in a time of 44.20 seconds.
In an ominous warning to his rivals, the 27-year-old reckoned afterwards: “I felt good, I think this is the best my body has felt all season. I managed that race pretty well, very comfortable, did what I needed to do, and that’s what I’m happy about.
“My coach believes it’s very difficult to beat a confident athlete and that’s what I am right now. My confidence is at an all-time high.”
As for what the plan is between now and the final on Thursday evening (3.10pm SA time), he added: “It’s all about recovery, getting myself prepped for that final. I’ve just been saving myself and saving myself as much as I can, and we survive and advance.”
Zakithi headed to Tokyo with the fastest 400m time in the world this year – the 43.76 seconds he ran in Nairobi in May. But that mantle was taken off him in the second semifinal in Tokyo as Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi claimed victory in a sizzling 43.61 seconds.
The third semifinal was won by another athlete from Botswana, Bayapo Ndori, in 44.21 seconds, with his compatriot Lee Bhekempilo Eppie also making it to the final, meaning half the field hails from Southern Africa.
Meanwhile, Lythe Pillay was the only other South African in action at the world champs on Tuesday. He finished sixth in his semifinal in 44.82 seconds, so missing out on Thursday’s final. Even before the race, he had set his sights on the part he needs to play in the 4x400m relay.
“My coach and physio were a bit angry at me for saying it, but for me, I was looking at the semi as a nice prep run for the relay,” he admitted afterwards.
“I went out, I gave it guts and glory. It didn’t pay out this time for the final, but at least I know I’m consistent, the body’s there, things are clicking, so come the relay, I’m really far more confident that I can contribute towards my team.”
Durban’s beachfront is bracing for a tidal wave of colour, rhythm, and record-breaking speed when the Boxer Super Run sprints into its third edition on Sunday, 12 October 2025.
More carnival than competition in its opening laps, the OPEN and SUPER SOCIAL WAVES will paint the promenade in neon energy, before the atmosphere tightens like a starter’s pistol. That’s when the nation’s fastest legs take centre stage, vying for the coveted crowns of King and Queen of the Boxer Super Run.
The event already hums with history. At the inaugural race in 2023, Precious Mashele and Glenrose Xaba tore up the record books, clocking 13:44 and 16:03 – the fastest 5km times ever run by South Africans on home soil. Mashele then went one better in 2024, slicing the stopwatch to 13:39.
ELITE WOMENS WAVE Boxer Super Run Durban by Gavin Ryan
“This year, all eyes will be on whether those records can fall again,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports.
“With an impressive R147 200 prize purse adding extra incentive, we’re optimistic about seeing more South African 5km records rewritten in Durban. But it’s not only the elite race that will deliver fireworks. The Open Wave is packed with competitive runners chasing personal bests – and with prize money for the Top 3 men and women across every age group, there’s every reason to push hard.”
Meyer adds with a grin: “And of course, the Super Social Wave will once again bring the colour and energy that make this event so unique. Whether you’re running or walking, we want to see you dress up, embrace the vibe, and turn the Durban streets into a celebration of fun, fitness and flair.”
Title sponsor Boxer Superstoresshares the buzz, pointing to the iconic route that snakes from Snell Parade, cruises down Lagoon Drive, and finishes at Blue Lagoon Park.
“We’re looking forward to another action-packed day of racing,” says Lee-Ann Pillay, Head of Marketing at Boxer Superstores.
“It’s a fast, flat course with just one little climb to test the legs, but the real magic is in the scenery – runners as young as nine will fly past Durban’s landmarks with the ocean breeze at their side. Add in the activations, the music, and the vibe, and this becomes the most social 5km run in South Africa.”
With capacity already maxed out, the stage is set. From neon-clad walkers to record-chasing elites, Durban’s streets are about to echo with footfalls of the Boxer Super Run, a festival of speed, sweat, and celebration.
The hum of engines may soon echo louder across South Africa, with the nation edging closer to a Formula 1 Grand Prix return in 2027. As preparations gather speed, eyes are turning not only to circuits like Kyalami and Cape Town’s proposed street track, but also to the next generation of drivers who might one day carry Africa’s colours onto the world stage.
At the centre of this conversation is Radhi Harris, an eight-year-old karting prodigy from Crawford on the Cape Flats. To Wesleigh Orr, four-time world karting champion and founder of Worr Motorsport, Harris is not merely a promising youngster, he is a potential game-changer.
“That’s the game-changer in the generation now. In the next three or four years there will be a Grand Prix here in Africa. So, that’s gonna put a lot of focus on the F1 teams and everyone involved in motorsport to find the talent out of Africa,” says Orr.
“Radhi could be the next Lewis Hamilton. However, we need a driver from Africa on the F1 circuit. So, there is going to be huge interest… There will be scouts in the next three or four years looking for natural talent. And we just think Radhi is gonna be that guy.”
A Star in the Making
Harris first caught international attention when, on his overseas debut, he stormed to victory in Spain’s Tillotson Bambino class. That triumph was no fluke. Since then, he has strung together a series of titles that have made him one of South Africa’s most consistent young drivers.
“I think Rahdi Harris is one of the few young drivers that we’ve had in the country that is consistent across the board in terms of results,” Orr explains.
“When drivers don’t have the advantage of the bigger teams and they are still running in front, then I think the ability is there. I think Radhi’s charisma and the way he conducts himself is also a big part of why he is so good.”
In 2023, Harris finished runner-up in his very first competitive race, a performance that earned him kart number 23. The following year, he captured the Western Province Regional Championship, then the South African National Bambino Championship, before claiming the T4 Nations Cup World Championship in Valencia. He now races in the faster, more technicalMicro MAX class, and still holds the lap record at Cape Town’s iconic Killarney track.
Racing in the Blood
Racing prodigy Radhi Harris in his element of the track Photo: Supplied
Motorsport is woven into the Harris family’s story. His grandfather, Zarier Harris, carved out a reputation as a street racer in his Toyota TRD during the 1980s and 1990s, while his father, Raaziegh, continued the tradition in the GTI Challenge at Killarney.
“Radhi was head-hunted by Wesleigh,” recalls Raaziegh.
“In his first race he ever did he finished second in 2023. And that is how he got his kart number 23… He then went on to win the T4 Nations Cup World Championship. He is now currently racing Micro MAX which is a step-up from the Bambino Class.”
For the Harris family, Rahdi’s rise feels like destiny, the next chapter in a lineage of speed.
Building a Path to F1
With Rahdi now signed to Worr Motorsport, his journey is backed by one of South Africa’s most ambitious karting outfits. Orr leads the international charge, while Hugh Orr oversees operations in the Western Cape and Neo Phasha trains up-and-coming talent at the academy. Together, they have built a structure designed to take African drivers from karting circuits to the world’s biggest stage.
Radhi Harris Photo: Instagram
“Signing a talent like Rahdi inspires our South African-based team to strive even harder to help our drivers achieve their dreams in motorsport,” says Orr.
“Our focus is on empowering African drivers with the skills, discipline, and support needed to compete on the global stage. We have one ambitious goal and that is to produce an African Formula 1 driver.
“Through rigorous training, top-tier equipment, and a passion for excellence, we hope to pave the way for African drivers to leave their mark in the world of motorsport.”
As South Africa positions itself for a long-awaited Formula 1 revival, Radhi Harris stands poised as a symbol of what that return could mean. He is not only navigating corners on karting tracks but also steering into a future where Africa claims its place on the F1 grid.
At just eight years old, Harris already drives like a racer with the road ahead mapped out. If the stars align, and the circuits are built, he could be the homegrown engine that powers South Africa into Formula 1 history.
– Mondo Duplantis breaks pole vault world record for the fourteenth time and fourth time in 2025.
– Swede secures gold and continues to etch his name into the history books as the greatest of all time.
– A pole vault clean sweep for PUMA as Emmanouil Karalis and Kurtis Marschall take second and third place.
PUMA athlete Mondo Duplantis has soared to another pole vault world record, jumping a gravity-defying 6.30m to take home a third consecutive gold at the World Athletics Championships.
Having already broken the world record three times this year, the Swede stepped onto the runway in front of a packed Japan National Stadium to make it four for good measure, redefining what is humanly possible in the pole vault.
Wearing his signature PUMA EvoSPEED Naio NITRO™ Elite spikes, and with cool-headed confidence, the 25-year-old made history look routine. Again. Turning centimetres into milestones with unmistakable ease.
Despite being the most competitive men’s pole vault field ever, it was PUMA athletes that swept the podium, with Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis (6.00m) and Australia’s Kurtis Marschall (5.95m) taking home the silver and bronze medals.
The results evidence PUMA’s position as trailblazers of track and field innovation, and pioneers of the future of fast.
The “world’s most beautiful marathon” the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon (TTOM) will once again take over the Mother City on 11 and 12 April 2026, with ballot entries opening for Blue Number Club (BNC) Members from 15 September 2025.
For the Interim Board, the coming edition of the TTOM is about more than simply sending runners around the Peninsula.
“The 2026 edition of the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon will not only celebrate TTOM’s rich legacy but also set new benchmarks for excellence and inclusivity,” explains interim chairperson Chris Goldschmidt.
“We know this event holds a special place in many runners’ hearts and are therefore committed to elevating the race experience to new heights, ensuring that every runner, whether seasoned or first-time, feels part of something truly remarkable.”
That legacy runs deep. For more than half a century, the Two Oceans has been a celebration. It’s a race that can break quads but lift spirits sky-high.
Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon by Devin Paisley
Stillwater Sports managing director Michael Meyer calls it part of South Africa’s sporting DNA.
“For over half a century, it has tested endurance, united runners from across the globe, and become part of South Africa’s sporting soul,” he says.
For Meyer, taking over as staging and commercial partner brings responsibility as much as pride.
“We are humbled to step into this role, with a responsibility to honour its legacy while building an even brighter future.
“Our commitment is to put runners at the heart of everything we do, deliver value to our sponsors, showcase Cape Town’s unrivalled beauty, and drive meaningful impact.
“We are especially grateful to the City of Cape Town, whose passion and support allow the Two Oceans Marathon to flourish as the world’s most beautiful race.
To every runner, supporter, partner, and citizen of Cape Town: Thank you for being part of this story. Together, we can honour the past, celebrate the present, and stride confidently into the future.”*
For title sponsor Totalsports, the race mirrors the very essence of running, heart, courage and community.
Jonathan Stein, Head of Business at Totalsports, says: “It is a privilege to welcome every runner to the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon. Known as The World’s Most Beautiful Marathon, this event is more than a race. It is a celebration of endurance, passion, and the unshakable spirit of the running community.
Crossing the start line takes courage, but it is the commitment, discipline, and countless hours of preparation that bring you here today.
Whether this is your first Two Oceans or your fifteenth, you are part of something remarkable, a community united by the love of running and the pursuit of personal goals.
Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon by Devin Paisley
“At Totalsports, we believe that the greatest runs are not measured only in distance or time, but in heart. As you take on every hill, every bend, and every breathtaking view, know that you are running with heart, and that is what makes this marathon so special. On behalf of Totalsports, I wish you a memorable race and an unforgettable journey.”
When race weekend arrives, the city will once again throb with energy, flooding the streets with pounding feet echoing off the mountain, and stories unfolding with every kilometre.
Some will chase records, others redemption. All will chase the horizon, running where two oceans meet, on the most beautiful stage the marathon world has to offer.
Race Day Details
Ultra Marathon (56km): Saturday, 11 April 2026 | Start: Newlands | Finish: UCT Rugby Fields | Cut-off: 7 hours | Entry: SA Licensed R840 | Rest of Africa R1030 | International R3080
Half Marathon (21.1km): Sunday, 12 April 2026 | Start: Newlands | Finish: UCT Rugby Fields | Cut-off: 3h30 | Entry: SA Licensed R450 | SA Unlicensed R525 (incl. temp licence) | Rest of Africa R830 | International R2160
New for 2026: every Ultra and Half Marathon entrant will receive an exclusive event T-shirt as part of their entry.
Tshepo Tshite and Zeney van der Walt provided the highlights on an otherwise gloomy day for the South African team at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Monday. By Karien Jonckheere
In the men’s 1500m semifinals, Tshepo was left devastated after missing out on a spot in Wednesday’s final by an agonising six thousandths of a second, edged on the line by Britain’s Neil Gourley. But his luck soon turned when Olympic champion Cole Hocker was disqualified for jostling in the closing metres, handing Tshite the final automatic qualifying spot after he finished sixth in 3:36.93.
Meanwhile, Zeney booked her place in Wednesday’s semifinals of the 400m hurdles after finishing fourth in her heat in 55.32 seconds. While not particularly pleased with her time, the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist was happy to have got the job done after running twice already in the 4x400m mixed relay heats and final just two days ago.
The rest of South Africa’s hurdlers were not as successful. Marioné Fourie hit a hurdle and lost her rhythm in her 100m hurdles semifinal, running into the next barrier and eventually being disqualified from the race. Having missed 10 weeks of training with a broken shoulder, she was simply pleased to have reached the semifinals, however.
“I didn’t actually expect to go to the semis. I was just aiming to come to world champs and run a time… I think overall it wasn’t too bad, but things happen and I have to learn from it,” she said afterwards.
Sabelo Dhlamini was fifth in his 400m hurdles heat in 49.50 seconds, so missing out on a semifinal spot by just one place, but was nevertheless inspired by his first World Championships experience at the age of 30.
“Running in such a stadium that has so many fans screaming at you is actually motivating,” he said afterwards. “I could feel the hairs on the back rising up over every hurdle that I attacked because I knew that sometimes people crumble under such pressure, but I think I held my own until the seventh hurdle. That’s where I started overthinking and things like that, so that’s where my race kind of went offline, but I’m happy with what I did today regardless.”
While it was a promising sign that three South Africans qualified for the 110m hurdles at the World Championships for the first time, neither of the trio progressed past the heats. World champs debutants John Adesola and Mondray Barnard both ran 13.57 seconds for sixth place in their respective heats, while Antonio Alkana was seventh in his, in 13.64 seconds.
“I had a bit of a bad start and started hitting hurdles from I think 1 already,” explained Antonio, a two-time Olympian. “My hips were low between the hurdles and that just messed up everything.”
Earlier in the day, Elroy Gelant was disappointed to finish 33rd in the men’s marathon in 2 hours 16 minutes 23 seconds, but satisfied to have at least reached the finish, with so many of the field having dropped out as the Tokyo heat took its toll.
“I’m disappointed with the position but happy with the finish,” he said.
Cheswill Johnson could only manage one legal jump of 7.55m in the long jump qualification, which was not enough to progress to the final, while Miré Reinstorf failed to clear a height in the women’s pole vault qualification.
Zakithi Nene arrived in Tokyo as one of the standout 400m contenders, having lowered his personal best multiple times this season, including a world-leading 43.76 seconds at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi. By Karien Jonckheere
Reflecting on his season, Nene reckoned: “I’m very much happy with how the season played out. I’ve been very consistent in running low 44s and breaking the 44 barrier as well, with the new PB of 43.7. So I’m very much chuffed with how things transpired, and the momentum that I’ve built throughout, and I’m just looking to draw strength from that.”
The KZN star certainly looked to be building on those performances as he cruised through his opening heat in the 400m in Tokyo on Sunday, looking supremely comfortable as he coasted to victory in 44.34 seconds to book a spot in the semifinals.
Nene’s journey to the Japanese capital hasn’t been without challenges, however. A grade 2 hamstring tear during warm-up before a meet in Budapest posed a serious setback. But, while the leg remains strapped, the two-time Olympian reckoned: “I felt good. That tear that I picked up in Budapest got me a little worried, given that it was five weeks before the championship, but I was able to recover well.
“I wasn’t going to jump on that flight from South Africa to Japan if I wasn’t confident that I could be competitive, and I showed that right now.”
While confidence is high, the 27-year-old was still feeling the pressure coming into these championships as the world leader. So he turned to veteran Akani Simbine to ask for advice. “I was just asking how you deal with having a target on your back, going from being the hunter to being the hunted. And one thing he said that stuck with me is you’ve got to own it. And that’s what I’m doing right now.
“Pressure is self-inflicted. It’s all about how you choose to navigate around it. It’s either you sink or you swim, and I’m ready to swim with the big sharks.”
Looking ahead, Nene’s ambitions are clear: “What am I hoping for in Tokyo? I’m hoping to put my best foot forward. I’m hoping to make the final and challenge for the podium and challenge for that gold medal.”
Looking at his form so far, Nene is certainly in the mix to do just that, starting with tomorrow’s semifinals, happening at 14h45 (SA Time) followed by the final on Thursday.
On a sprightly Spring morning in Cape Town where the absence of the Atlantic breeze felt like nature’s starter’s pistol, Joseph Khoarahlane Seutloali once again proved he is no stranger to rewriting the script.
Close to 9000 runners lined up at the start on Fritz Sonnenberg Road in ideal weather conditions in Green Point, and finished the challenging but spectacular 21.1km route on the lush green grass of Green Point Common.
Like a thoroughbred biding his time in the pack, Seutloali running in the colours of Hollywood Athletic Club shadowed his rivals up the Sea Point to Camps Bay climb before unleashing a surge that broke the race wide open.
Anthony Timoteus(1:03:05) from the Athlete’s Academy clung on for silver, 38 seconds adrift, while defending champion Lloyd Bosman (1:03:24) from the Nedbank Club settled for third.
Coached by the highly respected Andrew Booyens, Seutloali’s winning time was just 11 seconds shy of his lifetime best of 1:01:56 for the distance, set on a much flatter and faster route in Gqeberha in 2019.
Tymebank Langa’s William Kaptein (1:04:09) was fourth. Kaptein was followed by clubmates Yanga Malusi (1:04:09) and Edward Jack (1:04:32).
In the women’s race, KwaZulu-Natal’s Busisiwe Chamane from the Black Diamond Club literally and figuratively shined as bright like a diamond.
Busisiwe Chamane Photo: OUTsurance Gun Run
Having swapped soccer boots and volleyball nets for running shoes only in 2020, she has risen swiftly through the ranks.
In Green Point, she seized her biggest prize yet, clocking 1:17:45 ahead of Nedbank’s Anel Terblance (1:18:39) and Carla Johnson (1:20:20) from Asics Running Club. Terblanche’s Nedbank AGN teammate Deanne Laubscher (1:22:50) finished fourth with Tymebank Langa’s Alexa Townsend (1:23:02) crossing the finish line in fifth position.
Elsewhere, the Gun Run’s supporting acts provided their own theatre. Adam Lipschitz (29:18) sprinted to the men’s 10km title on Saturday. Bruce-Lynn Damons (29:32) was hot on his heels, with William Kaptein (30:07) claiming third.
Triathlete Shanae Williams (33:30) edged Kyla Jacobs (33:37) in a thrilling women’s 10km race, and trail king Philani Sengce (1:13:14) secured a third straight crown, striding home more than two minutes clear.
For Seutloali, the road ahead is painted with Olympic dreams, but on Sunday morning, The Mother City belonged to him. and to Chamane, who showed that sometimes the most unlikely journeys can end at the front of the pack.
Akani Simbine and Gift Leotlela ensured South Africa had two representatives in the 100m final for the first time in World Athletics Championships history in Tokyo on Sunday. But a medal was not to be for the duo, with Leotlela finishing fifth in 9.95 seconds and Simbine seventh in 10.04. By Karien Jonckheere
After a false start from Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, who was then disqualified, it was Jamaica’s Oblique Seville who outgunned the pack to take gold in a speedy 9.77 seconds, with his compatriot Kishane Thompson second in 9.82 and defending world champion and Olympic gold medallist Noah Lyles settling for bronze in 9.89 seconds.
Speaking afterwards, Simbine explained he had suffered cramp at the beginning of the race – something he wasn’t able to overcome to perform at his best.
“I cramped up a bit at the start and just couldn’t recover from that,” he said. “We’re just going to reassess how the body is and hopefully I’m good to go for the [4x100m] relay.”
Unlike Simbine, who has now featured in seven major championship finals, Leotlela was competing in his first after an impressive two days, which included running a blistering 9.87 seconds in the heats.
“It was amazing, I don’t want to lie, starting from last night, and I got a lot of confidence from the heats… I ran three sub-10s in two days, so I’ll take that as a big win.”
Adriaan Wildschutt finished in 10th spot in the 10,000m final earlier in the evening after losing touch with the leaders with just under a lap to go. He finished in 28 minutes 59.47 seconds, with the gold going to Frenchman Jimmy Gressier in 28:55.77 seconds.
“I just had to stay connected and conserve as much energy as possible and see how hard I could close. I didn’t quite have it towards the end, but I was there with 300m to go and I’m pretty proud of that,” said Wildschutt.
Earlier in the evening, both Zakithi Nene and Lythe Pillay eased through their respective heats to book places in the 400m semifinals. Current world leader Nene won his heat in 44.34 seconds with Pillay second in his heat in 44.73.
“Not a lot of athletes can say they’ve gone into world championships as world leader and that’s an achievement on its own that one should be proud of. So I’m wearing my bib with pride, I’ve got a target on my back, but I’m ready to defend it,” he said of the special blue numbers reserved for those who have run the fastest times of the year in each event.
The other South Africans to impress on Sunday were Marioné Fourie, who finished second in her 100m hurdles heat in 12.86 seconds to book a spot in Monday’s semifinals, while Tshepo Tshite finished sixth in his 1500m heat in 3:36.36 to also progress to the next round.
