'I Could be One of the Fastest in the World' - Bayanda Walaza Dreams Big After Exploits in Croatia

Bayanda Walaza

'I Could be One of the Fastest in the World' - Bayanda Walaza Dreams Big After Exploits in Croatia

Abigael Wafula 18:12 - 25.05.2025

South African sprint sensation Bayanda Walaza clocked a blistering 9.94 seconds at the Boris Hanžeković Memorial, moving closer to breaking Letsile Tebogo's world U20 100m record.

South African youngster Bayanda Walaza yet again dropped a splendid time at the 75th Boris Hanžeković Memorial on Saturday.

The double world under-20 champion clocked a stunning 9.94 seconds to cross the finish line. Germany’s Owen Ansah finished second in 10.20 seconds as Sweden’s Henrik Larsson rounded up the podium, clocking the same time.

Bayanda Walaza has been on a roll this season, and he just continues getting better and better with each race.

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He started his season with a series of competitions in South Africa, where he set a world-leading time of 9.99 seconds at the AGN U16, U18, U20, and Seniors Track & Field Championship before it was obliterated by Akani Simbine.

Bayanda Walaza: To Be One of the Fastest Juniors Feels Like an Honour

Bayanda Walaza
Bayanda Walaza

The 20-year-old revealed that he had talks with his coach on how well to execute the race, and he is glad to have done that and exceeded their expectations.

Bayanda Walaza added that being one of the fastest juniors in the world is a blessing, and he is looking to continue making waves as long as he can.

The South African youngster is now dreaming of shattering the under-20 record, now held by Letsile Tebogo. Letsile Tebogo clocked that time during the 2022 World Under-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, where he clocked 9.91 seconds to win the race.

“It was something my coach and I were planning, to come here and show up and show that South Africa is one of the strongest countries. But we were not expecting this result, maybe 9.98 seconds. But it was 9.94,” Bayanda Walaza said.

“To be one of the fastest juniors feels like an honour and makes me want to work more, be strong and win. If I could put myself together, I could be one of the fastest in the world. The world junior record can be broken, I still have a lot of time.”

Bayanda Walaza has slowly been rising through the ranks in the men’s 100m, and he will certainly be a force to be reckoned with once he gets the experience and learns the ropes.

He broke into the limelight last year after securing a double win in the 100m and 200m at the World Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru.

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