South Africa has begun sharpening its preparations for the upcoming World Athletics Relays, with a strong training camp held at the University of Johannesburg Athletics Stadium as the nation targets another successful outing on the global stage.
The prestigious relay championship will take place in Gaborone from 2–3 May 2026, and Athletics South Africa (ASA) has already assembled a 32-member preparation squad featuring some of the country’s top sprint and quarter-mile talents.
The first relay camp of the season took place on Saturday, 7 March, bringing together many members of the squad for a day focused not only on technical preparation but also on building the chemistry required to succeed in relay racing.
South Africa enters the new campaign with momentum after a strong performance at the World Athletics Relays, where the national team captured three medals – two gold and one bronze.
According to ASA High Performance Manager Hezekiel Sepeng, the camp was an essential first step in preparing the team for the challenges ahead.
“These training camps are not only about training. They are also about team building and the athletes need to understand each other,” Sepeng said.
“Eating lunch together, talking, creating strategies while they’re sitting here together and sharing their goals so they can combine them into one team goal is very important.”
Sepeng emphasized that relay success depends heavily on trust and familiarity among teammates, particularly in the short sprint relay where precision can determine victory or defeat.
“The time spent together on the track is especially important for the athletes in the 4x100m relay teams,” he explained.
“The 4x100m is more technical than the 4x400m, and if you are going to win gold you need to be perfect on the day. You will get it wrong at first, but you try again and again until you get it right, and you can only do that by practicing at these training camps.”
The athletes are now working closely with newly appointed national relay coaches Werner Prinsloo and Irma Reyneke, who are overseeing preparations as the squad builds toward the world championships.
Sepeng confirmed that the Johannesburg camp is just the beginning of a structured buildup toward the global event.
A second relay camp is scheduled after the ASA Senior Championships, which will take place in Stellenbosch from 16–18 April.
Following that event, the preparation squad will be trimmed to a final team heading to Botswana.
“We will have a second camp leading up to the World Relays,” Sepeng said. “It will be after the ASA Senior Championships and athletes will be in shape by then.”
“We will also have reduced the squad to a smaller team, and that camp will allow the athletes to do the final touch-ups before competition.”
Before departing for Botswana, the squad could also test their readiness in competition at the Simbine Classic, scheduled for 28 April in Tshwane.
South Africa is expected to field strong relay quartets across both the sprint and long relays, led by world-class names such as Akani Simbine, Shaun Maswanganyi and former world champion Wayde van Niekerk.
With experienced stars and emerging talents combining in the squad, ASA hopes the early preparation camps will give the team the cohesion needed to once again challenge for medals on the international stage when the world’s best relay teams gather in Gaborone.
ASA World Athletics Relays Preparation Squad
Men
4x100m:
Shaun Maswanganyi, Gift Leotlela, Akani Simbine, Sinesipho Dambile, Bayanda Walaza, Karabo Letebele, Bradley Nkoana, Tsebo Matsoso, Retshidisitswe Mlenga, Abduraghmaan Karriem
4x400m:
Wayde van Niekerk, Lythe Pillay, Zakithi Nene, Gardeo Isaacs, Leendert Koekemoer, Udeme Okon, Tumisang Shezi, Mthi Mthimkulu, Antonie Matthys Nortje
Women
4x100m:
Hannah Hope Vermaak, Joviale Mbisha, Gabriella Marais, Chardone Smidt, Leonette Vosloo, Viwe Jingqi
4x400m:
Shirley Nekhubui, Zeney van der Walt, Hannah van Niekerk, Miranda Coetzee, Marlie Viljoen, Tamzin Thomas, Precious Molepo.
