ACCRA, GHANA – Team South Africa ended their 2026 African Athletics Championships campaign on a resounding high, adding a flurry of gold, silver, and bronze medals across the final two days of competition in Accra, Ghana. From defending champions holding their ground to weather-delayed triumphs and sweet domestic rivalries playing out on the continental stage, Days 5 and 6 delivered plenty of fireworks for the green and gold.
Van Wyk Soars on Day 5
The penultimate day of the championships set the tone with brilliant performances in the field events. The undisputed highlight came from Valco van Wyk in the men’s pole vault. In a clearly emotional performance that had the crowd on their feet, Van Wyk cleared a height of 5.40m to secure the gold medal and add to South Africa’s growing tally.
He wasn’t the only South African finding success in the field on Day 5. Tshepang Makhethe delivered a strong performance to claim a well-deserved bronze in the men’s hammer throw final. Meanwhile, in the women’s javelin, Jana van Schalkwyk secured another bronze for Team SA with a throw of 54.36m, finishing behind Egypt’s Ossama Assel, who took the title with a 60.97m effort.
Joseph Defends Her Crown in Style
As the championships moved into the final day, Rogail Joseph showed exactly why she is a powerhouse in the women’s 400m hurdles. Running in lane 4, Joseph showcased pure class to cross the line in 54.73 seconds, successfully defending her African Champion crown. In a post-race interview, an elated Joseph noted that her primary goal in Accra was defending her title, and she now has her sights firmly set on reaching the final at the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
Middle-Distance Mastery and Weather Delays
The women’s 1500m final proved to be a dramatic affair before the starting gun even fired. A 14-strong field, including South African national champion Karabo More, was left waiting on the start line as severe rain swept across the region, abruptly halting proceedings. After an hour-long delay, the athletes returned to the track, and the wait proved worth it for More. Navigating the conditions perfectly, she surged to victory to become the African champion, claiming gold with a time of 4:15.40.
The men’s 1500m final delivered arguably the race of the day for South African fans, featuring a thrilling 1-2 finish for Team SA. Luan Munnik and Tsepo Tshite, who have enjoyed an intense domestic rivalry over the last few months, took their battle to the continental stage. Munnik managed to reverse their recent national championship result, taking the gold medal with a time of 3:42.19, while teammate Tshite secured the silver just fractions behind in 3:42.31. Defending champion Brian Komen of Kenya was forced to settle for third against the South African duo.
In the women’s 3000m steeplechase, Carina Swiegers fought hard against the traditional East African powerhouses. She finished 8th with a time of 10:41.89, as Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes claimed a 1-2-3 sweep on the podium.
More Medals Flow in the Sprints and Field
Team SA’s medal rush continued across various disciplines on the final day. In the men’s 200m final, Mihlali Xotyeni capped off a busy week by claiming a bronze medal. He stopped the clock at 20.57 seconds, finishing behind Ivory Coast’s Chiekhna Traore and Botswana’s Phaezel Selepe. In the women’s 200m final, Joviale Mbisha faced a tough task drawing the inside Lane 1 against Africa’s best, ultimately claiming 6th spot with a time of 24.31.
The field athletes made sure to leave their mark on Day 6 as well. Douw Smit brought home a bronze medal in the men’s javelin final with a throw landing exactly on the 76.00m mark, behind Kenya’s gold medalist Julius Kiplangat. Fellow South African Righardt Stander also put in a solid shift in the same final, claiming 5th place with a distance of 73.94m.
In the men’s high jump, Matao Le Roux soared to a silver medal after clearing a height of 2.16m, finishing behind Algeria’s Younes Ayachi. Finally, in the women’s triple jump, Sizwe Zulu secured a bronze medal with a distance of 13.43m, sharing the podium with Senegal’s Saly Sarr (14.71m) and Mauritius’s Liliane Potiron (13.91m).
With a commanding performance across both track and field events on the closing weekend, Team South Africa leaves Accra having firmly stamped their authority on the continent once again.
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