Bayanda Walaza Breaks Sub-10 Barrier, Marks Milestone in South African Sprinting
On March 16, Bayanda Walaza shattered the South African Under-20 100m record by clocking 9.99 seconds at the Gauteng North Provincial Championships in Pretoria. This performance made him the joint fifth fastest junior athlete globally. Walaza’s rise follows a successful 2024 season, including an Olympic silver medal and victories at the World Athletics U20 Championships.
Bayanda Walaza, a rising star in South African sprinting, achieved a remarkable milestone on March 16 by breaking the sub-10 barrier in the 100m sprint, clocking an impressive time of 9.99 seconds during the Gauteng North Provincial Championships in Pretoria. This performance not only secured him the victory but also established a new South African Under-20 record, making him the joint fifth fastest junior athlete globally in this event.
At just 19 years of age, Walaza has joined an elite group of only nine South Africans to have ever completed the 100m in under 10 seconds. His record-breaking run surpassed the previous mark of 10.03 seconds held by Bradley Nkoana. Walaza has gained recognition for his unique running style and appears to have reached a new level of performance following an impressive 2024 season, which included winning an Olympic silver medal in the 4x100m relay and dominating the 100-200m events at the World Athletics U20 Championships held in Lima.
During the same age-group championships, Walaza notably defeated Australian sprinter Gout Gout for the 200m title, positioning both athletes as standout prospects in the sprinting arena. The competition intensified as Gout achieved a remarkable 200m time of 20.05 seconds at the Queensland Athletics Championships 2025, narrowly missing his national senior record.
Despite the season’s early stage, both Walaza and Gout have showcased the fastest recorded times in their respective events. Walaza had previously initiated his impressive season with a noteworthy 60m performance, finishing in 6.58 seconds at a February meeting in Pretoria, marking the 11th fastest time ever recorded by a junior athlete in this distance.
Walaza first gained public attention in 2024 when he clocked 10.13 seconds at the South African junior championships and later secured a second-place finish behind senior sprinter Akani Simbine at the national championships. With his recent achievements, Walaza has firmly established himself as a formidable competitor on the senior sprinting landscape.
Bayanda Walaza’s accomplishments signify a substantial leap in his athletic career, highlighted by his recent sub-10 second run, which places him amongst the best in junior sprinting history. His trajectory suggests continued promise, not only within the junior ranks but also as he emerges onto the senior stage, solidifying his position as a prominent figure in South African athletics.
Original Source: www.olympics.com
