Fireworks expected at UJ as top athletes compete in ASA Grand Prix leg

Rising sprint star Bayanda Walaza, fresh off his record-breaking 9.99-second run in the 100m at the Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) Provincial Championships at Pilditch Stadium, will compete in the men’s 200m.

He faces a strong challenge from Luxolo Adams, who was controversially left out of Team SA’s Olympic squad last year due to fitness concerns.

Now back in form, Adams will test himself against the world U20 100m and 200m champion.

In the men’s high jump, four-time national champion Mpho Links will go head-to-head with reigning national champion and 2024 Olympian Brian Raats.

Meanwhile, African 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya will take on South Africa’s Olympic 4x100m relay silver medallist Bradley Nkoana, alongside veteran sprinter Gift Leotlela, who is making his return from a long-term knee injury.

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Also, in the mix for a thrilling 100m showdown at 7:55 pm are Tsebo Matsoso and former national 200m champion Sinesipho Dambile.

The women’s 100m final will see national champion Viwe Jingqi face off against Tamzin Thomas, who is engaged to fellow athlete Elroy Gelant. 

In the 400m, national champion and Olympian Lythe Pillay will go head-to-head with world Under-20 champion Udeme Okon, both of whom train at the same venue. The women’s 400m race will see Olympian Zeney Geldenhuys competing against Shirley Nekhubui and junior champion Precious Molepo.

Meanwhile, Ryan Mphahlele will take on Tshepiso Masalela—who finished seventh in the men’s 800m Olympic final in Paris—alongside Maxime Chaumeton from the renowned Zoo Lake training group. This clash promises to be one of the key highlights of the Wednesday evening competition.

The event is hosted by Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) at the recently upgraded athletics stadium at the University of Johannesburg.

Speaking to SABC Sport UJ's head of athletics and long jump coach, Roger Haitengi, expressed excitement about showcasing the venue, which has seen some of the sport's biggest names compete.

 "This track was revamped a year and a half ago, and it’s incredibly fast. I remember Simon Makgakwe running 10.02 seconds here, while Gift Leotlela clocked 9.94 seconds and Thando Roto ran 9.98 seconds. It’s an excellent track for both sprinting and jumping, with great altitude and a rich history," he said.

 "Hezekiel Sepeng and other legends have competed here before. The stadium has a compact design, and the local community enjoys coming out in large numbers to support events.

There’s a unique culture here—it’s always a fun atmosphere with a great crowd. 

The track is well-maintained, designed to deliver strong performances, and offers athletes a valuable opportunity to meet qualifying standards. I’m expecting impressive results, particularly in the sprints and jumps.

Hopefully, the weather holds up, as Joburg can get chilly and rainy. Ideally, we’d like temperatures around 20 to 25 degrees.

The athletes love this venue—Akani Simbine has trained here a few times, and the track is excellent,” said Haitengi.