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A full-strength national team has been announced for the CAA African U18 and U20 Championships to be held in Ndola, Zambia from 29 April to 3 May 2023.
A final 41-member U18 (Youth) squad has been unveiled by Athletics South Africa, including 23 boys and 18 girls, along with a 45-member U20 (Junior) squad which includes 22 men and 23 women.
The men’s U20 team features the likes of World U20 Championships silver medallist Brian Raats, who will turn out in the high jump and long jump prospect Asande Mthembu, who has already landed at 8.08m this season.
Among the women, Ashley Erasmus will be eager to showcase her form at international level after winning double gold in the shot put and discus throw at the ASA U20 Championships in Pietermaritzburg last month and going on to take the ASA senior shot put title in Potchefstroom.
Another athlete to watch out for is Precious Molepo, who reached the 400m final at the last two editions of the World U20 Championships.
In the U18 age group, some very promising athletes will be looking to gain valuable experience against their African counterparts.
The boys’ team includes Naeem Jack, who set a South African youth record of 13.25 seconds in the 110m hurdles at the recent ASA U18 Championships in Pietermaritzburg and Temoso Masikane, who broke the national U18 long jump record with a leap of 7.93m at the same event.
The girls’ team includes the likes of youth prodigy Timeke-Jade Coetzee, who won gold in the long jump and triple jump at the ASA U18 Championships and Alicia Khunou, who also earned double gold in the shot put and discus throw at the national youth championships.
Aside from athletes in individual events, the SA team also includes an U18 medley relay squad, as well as 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams in the U20 age group.’