South African sprinter Bayanda Walaza gained valuable experience and inspiration after matching up against Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson.
South Africa’s rising sprint star Bayanda Walaza stepped onto stage at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston, Jamaica, and came away a head full of lessons.
The World U20 champion lined up in a formidable men’s 100m final that featured Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson and Jamaican sprint ace Oblique Seville.
Thompson dominated the race with a blistering time of 9.88 seconds, pulling ahead midway through to secure a convincing win.
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21:51 - 07.06.2025
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Seville, surging late, clocked a season’s best 9.97 for second as Walaza finished fourth in 10.06 seconds, narrowly edged out by fellow South African Gift Leotlela.
For Walaza, who is emerging as one of Africa’s top sprint prospects, the race was more than just about numbers.
“It feels like an honour, you know. I'm excited about today,” he said.
Walaza Rising Among Giants
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Despite finishing outside the top three, Walaza’s showing against a world-class field is a testament to his rapid development.
The youngster is already being mentioned in the same breath as sprint heavyweights like Akani Simbine and Ferdinand Omanyala.
Competing alongside them and against Thompson, offered a reality check and a motivational spark.
“I believe this was a good race. And I did my best. I got discipline. And I take it as a gift of many,” Walaza reflected.
As Walaza continues to refine his race execution and gain exposure to elite competition, he is expected to become a major force on the senior circuit.