Athletics South Africa to invest more in women’s relay

The men’s team also qualified for the World Relay Championships in the Bahamas and benefited from extensive preparation, including local training camps and sessions in Montpellier, France, ahead of the global event.

Speaking to SABC Sport, ASA Athletes Commission Chairperson Hendrick Mokganyetsi emphasized the importance of developing a competitive women’s squad.

"We are going to keep the relay project, maintain it, make sure that we deliver again in terms of the relay. Our focus will be more on the women to make sure that we create that platform for women relays and I think you've seen World Athletics has introduced a new relay now 4x100m mixed,” Mokganyetsi said.

“So, we'll also be tackling into it and making sure that we get ready. Our plan is for the World Champs in September.”

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Mokganyetsi acknowledges that men’s relay projects have taken precedence in recent years.

However, he sees this as a chance for the women’s relay team to rise to the occasion and make their mark.

"I agree because people have been asking and we've already announced our squad. It was released last year, the squad of relays and the squad of all the teams and those squads will be part of the meeting on the 25th," he added.

After ending its Olympic medal drought with two silver medals in Paris, Athletics South Africa (ASA) is now determined to break its World Championships dry spell, having last won medals in 2017 in London, where the team claimed an impressive six medals.

"That is why I am saying that we are going to maintain what happened last year in Paris, what happened in the Bahamas, what happened in Peru in terms of the juniors. So, we are going to maintain that performance to make sure that World Champs this year in July, we bring something home."