Athletics South Africa has named a relatively controversial 24-member team for the World Athletics Championships in London next month.
Akani Simbine was unstoppable in 2017. Photo: Karim Jaafar/AFP.
While the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) stuck to its standard single qualifying criteria, the national federation had set A and B standards, apparently for cost cutting purposes.
The only athletes to achieve A-standard marks who did not make the team were former Olympic long jump silver medallist Khotso Mokoena, US-based sprinter Ncinci Titi and fellow speedster Gift Leotlela.
With only three spots available in each discipline, based on IAAF limitations, Mokoena was not given the nod, with Luvo Manyonga, Ruswahl Samaai and Zarck Visser all ranked above him during the qualifying window.
Titi and Leotlela, who was sidelined in recent weeks with a back injury, were given a back seat with 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk, Olympic 100m finalist Akani Simbine and SA junior 200m record holder Clarence Munyai rated ahead of them in the half-lap event.
Though some B-standard qualifiers and African champions were selected based on various criteria, a number of others lost out.
Though some B-standard qualifiers and African champions were selected based on various criteria, a number of others lost out.
Among them were distance runner Dominique Scott-Efurd, in superb form this season, as well as sprinters Alyssa Conley, the SA 100m and 200m champion, and World Student Games 400m gold medallist Justine Palframan.
The SA 4x100m relay team, who were given only two real chances to qualify despite boasting some of the most feared sprinters on the international circuit, missed out on an invite from the IAAF after being ranked 18th during the window period, with only 16 places available in the heats.
The national squad would be led by defending men’s 400m champion Wayde van Niekerk, who would also turn out in the 200m event, long jump sensation Luvo Manyonga, women’s 800m favourite Caster Semenya and javelin thrower Sunette Viljoen, who would target her third career medal at the global championships.
Men
100m: Akani Simbine, Thando Roto
200m: Simbine, Wayde van Niekerk, Clarence Munyai
400m: Van Niekerk, Pieter Conradie
10 000m: Stephen Mokoka
110m hurdles: Antonio Alkana
Long jump: Luvo Manyonga, Ruswahl Samaai, Zarck Visser
Shot put: Orazio Cremona, Jaco Engelbrecht
Discus throw: Victor Hogan
Javelin throw: Rocco van Rooyen
20km walk: Lebogang Shange
Marathon: Lusapho April, Desmond Mokgobu, Sibusiso Nzima
Women
100m: Carina Horn
800m: Caster Semenya
400m hurdles: Wenda Nel
Javelin throw: Sunette Viljoen
Marathon: Jenna Challenor, Mapaseka Makhanya
