South Africa has confirmed its squad for the World Athletics U20 Championships, where the nation’s emerging stars will chase international success in one of athletics’ biggest junior events.
Johannesburg, South Africa (06 July 2026) – On your marks, get set… Oregon awaits! South Africa’s next generation of athletics stars is ready to take centre stage as they prepare to take on the world’s best at the World Athletics U20 Championships. After an impressive junior season that has produced standout performances on home soil, the countdown has officially begun for one of the biggest events on the global athletics calendar.
Athletics South Africa has announced a 51-member national team that will compete at the championships in Eugene, Oregon, from 5 to 9 August. The squad includes some of the country’s most promising young athletes, who will be looking to build on South Africa’s growing reputation as a powerhouse in junior athletics.
A few adjustments have been made to the provisional squad announced in May. Sprint hurdler Naeem Jack and long jumper Keamogetswe Monyeki are no longer available for selection, while long jumper Levi Fick and decathlete Daniel von der Heyden have been added to the final team.
The South African team heads to the United States with plenty of confidence after an outstanding campaign at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru. On that occasion, Team SA finished sixth on the overall medal table, collecting seven medals in one of the country’s best performances at the event.
South Africa’s junior athletes have shown throughout the season that they can compete with the best. Now they have the chance to prove it once again.
Men
- Marko Ferreira (100m/4x100m relay)
- Mukona Manavhela (100m/200m/4x100m relay)
- Kryn Romijn (400m/4x400m relay)
- Leendert Koekemoer (400m/4x400m relay)
- Emil Els (800m)
- Werner Gouws (800m)
- Tiisetso Malungane (1500m)
- Bertus van der Linde (1500m)
- Jayden Parkin (110m hurdles)
- Matodzi Ndou (400m hurdles/4x400m relay)
- Lesibe Dikgale (400m hurdles)
- Njabulo Hlatshwayo (5000m)
- Siyabonga Mbeleki (3000m steeplechase)
- Matao le Roux (high jump)
- Kenneth Pooko (high jump)
- Tshiamo Motsamai (long jump)
- Levi Fick (long jump)
- Dewald Benjamin Bezuidenhout (shot put)
- Jaco van Dyk (shot put)
- Joshua Gerber (discus throw)
- Jan-Hendrik Heymans (javelin throw)
- Marques Olivier (javelin throw)
- Daniel von der Heyden (decathlon)
- Zattu Hlongwane (4x100m relay)
- Marlon Kayster (4x100m relay)
- Abelines Schoeman (4x400m relay)
- Ryno Riekert (4x400m relay)
Women
- Faith Konde (100m/4x100m relay)
- Rume Burger (100m/200m/4x100m relay)
- Sarah Reed (200m/4x100m relay)
- Christi Loggenberg (400m/4x400m relay)
- Davida Strong (400m/4x400m relay)
- Carise van Rooyen (800m)
- Lara Stander (800m/1500m)
- Andrea Steynberg (1500m)
- Tumi Ramokgopa (100m hurdles/400m hurdles/4x400m relay)
- Megan Nieman (100m hurdles/400m hurdles/4x400m relay)
- Michaela Spocter (high jump)
- Ansume de Beer (pole vault)
- Oluchi Abelwe Ndubueze (long jump)
- Ashlynn Norman (long jump)
- Johanne Lamprecht (shot put)
- Fortune Cleutus-Okolo (shot put)
- Mila Ueckermann (discus throw)
- Christé Loedolff (discus throw)
- Stephane Hook (javelin throw)
- Marine Grobler (javelin throw)
- Zoé Cilliers (4x100m relay)
- Chrystabel Davis (4x100m relay)
- Isabella Gunter (4x400m relay)
- Zanté van der Merwe (4x400m relay)
by 
