Gift Leotlela and Jovialle Mbisha were crowned the 100m sprint champions for men and ladies respectively, after striking versions at the Mcarthur Athletics Stadium.
In the 100m final of the gentlemen, Leotlela – who comes from Phuthaditjaba in the Eastern Free State – stormed from 9.99 seconds to gold in a sizzling time, so that the qualification for the world championships in Tokyo was obtained later this year. Earlier in the semi-final he clocked 9.94 seconds and marked his first sub-10 version of the season.
The new South African 100M champion for men, born in Phuthaditjhaba, Gift Leotela, who talks about winning the gold in 9.99 sec on ASA Senior National Track & Field Championships in Potchefstroom 2025 #Athletics #Nationalchampionships pic.twitter.com/unsc2BTKQH
– OFM Sport (@OFMSport) April 25, 2025
Leotlela barely eliminated the favorite, Bayanda Walaza, who took silver in exactly 10.00 seconds, while Benjamin Richardson from North West claimed bronze in 10.05 seconds.
After struggling with injuries in recent years, Leotlela was clearly relieved to secure his first Sa Senior title in the short sprint.
“At the moment I don’t know how to feel, but I am very happy. I came here to win,” said Leotlela.
“You have to keep believing, whatever happens. I knew that if I wanted to continue to compete in job and field, I had to believe I could go back to this level.”
The new 100m champion Jovial Mbisha of the new ladies about winning gold in 11.48 in a final in which all three sprinters on stage from the Free State are having. Gabriella Marais and Rumé Burger from Bloemfontein took the Silver & Bronze on the Senior National Championships in Potchefstroom pic.twitter.com/vfpheucm6f
– OFM Sport (@OFMSport) April 25, 2025
In the 100m of the women, all three podium finishers originally came from free state, although Mbisha now competes under the Central Gauteng Athletics Banner. She defeated Gabriella Marais and Rising Star Rumé Burger – both from Bloemfontein – to win the national title.
Mbisha, who comes from Sasolburg, claimed gold in 11.48 seconds. The Hockey-Player-Sprinter Marais, who earned Bronze during last year’s national championships in Pietermaritzburg, stepped up this year to take silver in 11.58 seconds.
Gabriella Marais (Middle) – St Michael’s school
Burger, only 17 years old, closed the stage with 11.58 seconds in its very first senior national final. She recently broke four national school records at the SA High Schools Championships in Bloemfontein. The daughter of the former Toyota Cheetahs wing player and Blitzbok Philip Burger, she is expected to shine in her favorite event – the 200m – later this weekend.
“I said to myself for the race:” You are the champion, you are the champion, “said Mbisha after her victory.
“Everyone can believe in you, but you have to believe in yourself – and I did.”
Rumé Burger – Morgan Piek
In other finals:
• Valco van Wyk (ACNW) took gold in the pole vault of the men with a height of 5.40 m.
• Douw Smit (ACNW) won the men’s spear throw with a best of 79.71m.
• Colette Uys (AGN) dominated the discus throw of the women with an attempt of 57.94 million.
• Alicia Khunou (AGN), second in the Discus, set a new South African U20 record with its pitch of 55.06m.
In the mixed 4x400m relay, the ACNW team of Dean Muller, Jessica van Heerden, Juan du Plessis and Carla Hartingh Klokken 3: 33.36 to achieve the highest honor.
With two more days of competition left:
• Agn leads the medal classification with 11 medals (4 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze).
• ACNW is second with 7 medals (4 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze).
• CGA is in third place with 3 medals (1 gold, 2 silver).
Morgan Piek Ofm Sport
OFM
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