ACCRA, GHANA — Team South Africa continues to make impact on the continent, pushing their total medal tally to 11 by the close of Day 4 at the 2026 African Athletics Championships in Accra. Colette Uys and Enya Pooler were the latest athletes to step onto the podium, securing gold and silver respectively to keep South Africa firmly on track in their mandate to defend their overall crown.
Day 4: Uys Finds Redemption and Pooler Shines in the Heptathlon
Bouncing back after missing out on the discus podium earlier in the competition, Colette Uys stamped her authority in her premier event. The South African national champion and World University Games bronze medalist left no doubt as to who rules the continent, dominating the women’s shot put final to clinch the gold medal with an impressive distance of 17.35m.
In the women’s heptathlon, 23-year-old Enya Pooler capped off a gruelling two days of competition with a spectacular finish. After establishing a strong points lead on the opening day by dominating the 100m hurdles and 200m, Pooler concluded the multi-event challenge by winning the final 800m race. Her brilliant track performance secured her the overall silver medal, finishing just behind Benin’s legendary Odile Ahouanwanou.
It was a day of mixed fortunes on the track, however. Jacobs Denmar suffered a heartbreaking start to his campaign, agonizingly dropping to the track in despair after being disqualified for a false start in heat 1 of the men’s 110m hurdles. Elsewhere, in the women’s 10,000m final, Karabo Mailula pushed herself to the absolute limit in a fiercely competitive and punishing field, ultimately finishing just outside the top eight.
Day 3: A Golden Haul in the Field
The Day 4 successes followed a spectacular Day 3 that saw South Africa rake in crucial medals, largely driven by the nation’s exceptional field athletes.
Ansume de Beer claimed her first senior continental title in the women’s pole vault. The national champion displayed phenomenal class to clear a new personal best of 4.30m. Riding the momentum with nothing to lose, she even attempted 4.40m, and though the bar remained at 4.30m, there is little doubt that greater heights are imminent for the ecstatic champion.
Kristi Snyman, a two-time SA national champion, also added her name to the continental champions list, taking gold in the women’s high jump. Speaking after her victory, Snyman noted that her sights are set firmly on the upcoming Commonwealth Games, with a new personal best remaining a top priority.
On the track, Wernich van Rensburg secured a hard-fought bronze in the men’s 400m hurdles. He crossed the line in 49.35, just shy of the 49.12 personal best he set in Germiston earlier this year. In a mouth-watering women’s 400m final, Marli Viljoen clocked 52.41 to finish fifth behind gold medalist Aliye Ajyaba of Ethiopia (51.54). Meanwhile, Edmund du Plessis placed ninth in a punishing, world-class men’s 800m final with a time of 1:47.82.
Day 2 Amendment: Van As Adds to the Tally
In an update to our previous coverage, it has been confirmed that Morne van As secured a bronze medal for Team SA in the men’s decathlon. This officially brings South Africa’s Day 2 medal count to four, revising our initial report of three medals for the day.
Defending the Crown
This steady accumulation of hardware aligns perfectly with Athletics South Africa’s (ASA) mission for the championships. The 11 medals won so far—adding to the early golds from athletes like Luvo Manyonga and Aiden Smith—keep the team in the hunt to match or exceed the 19 medals won at the 2024 African Athletics Championships in Douala, Cameroon.
“The mandate of the team is that they must defend the crown and bring back many medals led by gold,” said ASA Deputy President and Acting President, John Mathane. “So, the war to acquire personal and national glory continues. We urge the team to remain focused and the athletes to enjoy themselves in the process.”
As the 2026 African Athletics Championships heads towards its conclusion on Sunday, 17 May, Team SA remains a formidable force in Accra.
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