Gift Leotlela stuns younger opposition to win SA 100m title

Gift Leotlela made a spectacular return to top-flight competition on Thursday, beating a strong field to win the men’s 100m title at the SA Athletics Championships in Potchefstroom.

Leotlela, who represented South Africa at the 2016 Olympic Games as a teenager, had struggled with injuries in recent years, but the 26-year-old sprinter proved he had regained his best form by dipping on the line to secure victory in the short sprint final in 9.99 seconds.

Junior sensation Bayanda Walaza was edged into second place, crossing the line in 10.00, and Olympic semifinalist Benji Richardson ended third in 10.05.

“I don’t know how to feel at the moment but I’m very happy. I came here to win,” Leotlela said after the race.

“You have to keep believing, no matter what. I knew if I wanted to continue competing in track and field I had to have that belief that I could get back to the point where I am now.”

Meanwhile, Joviale Mbisha won her first SA senior 100m crown, taking the women’s final in 11.48 seconds.

With title favourite Viwe Jingqi withdrawing after the heats as a precautionary measure ahead of the international season, after picking up an injury niggle, Mbisha won a wide open race. Gabriella Marais finished second in 11.55 and 17-year-old Rume Burger was third in 11.58.

Other results

In other events, long-distance runner Glenrose Xaba wrapped up a 5 000m and 10 000m double for the second year in a row, securing her 10th national title on the track.

Xaba, who had won the SA 10 000m championship race held at the Cape Milers Club meeting in Cape Town earlier this month, coasted to victory in the 5 000m final yesterday in 15:27.95.

And former world champion Luvo Manyonga made a statement in the men’s long jump qualifying round.

Returning to action this season after a four-year ban due to a recreational drug addiction, Manyonga landed at 7.80m to produce the best leap of the opening round.

Manyonga will be back in action today as he turns out among the favourites for the national title he last won in 2019.