Team South Africa in Confident Mood Ahead of World Athletics Championship

Prudence Sekgodiso and Jo-Ané du Plessis will spearhead the women’s contingent’s medal hopes for Team South Africa at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in an upcoming week of the world’s most anticipated athletic performances, from 13 to 21 September, 2025. 

Team SA will include seventeen female athletes, and among their talented numbers is World 800m Indoor champion, Prudence Sekgodiso, alongside national record holders Marioné Fourie (100m hurdles), Ashley Erasmus (shot put) and Jessica Groenewald (35km race walk).

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Former Olympic 400m champion, javelin thrower Jo-Ané du Plessis is the other member of the team to have earned a medal in an individual event at the Olympic Games, and African champion Collete Uys also will be among South Africa’s top medal contenders, having just won bronze in the Shot Put final at the World Student Games in Germany, in July this year. 

Uys is hopeful of making the final, but also wants to enjoy the experience of being at such a prestigious event: “My expectation for Japan is to enjoy it!” 

“I was at the World Student Games a month ago, and I regret not taking in the moment and enjoying it fully. I want to go for the final, and try to make the final, but definitely enjoy the experience,” said Uys. 

President of Athletics South Africa, James Moloi was optimistic about the team’s prospects: “This team reflects the dedication, resilience, and hard work of our athletes, coaches, and support staff, who have tirelessly prepared for this moment on both local and international stages. Their selection is a recognition of excellence and a call to carry the South African flag with honour and pride.

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“We urge the athletes to remain focused, disciplined, and united as they take on the world’s best. Championships of this calibre demand not only physical strength but also mental resilience, and we are confident that our team will rise to the occasion. 

“South Africa stands behind you, and we believe your performances will inspire the next generation of athletes and reaffirm our place among the world’s athletics nations.”

Athletics South Africa President, James Moloi

Jean Verster, the chairperson of Athletics South Africa track and field commission and the national team leader, was equally confident of the squad’s medal chances, pointing to positive signs for medal potential and future growth: “I think our whole plan of growing the depth in our sport is very important, and this year 49 athletes are in the team for the World Championships, which is one of the biggest teams we’ve had in many years,” Verster said. 

“The level at the World Championships is so high and you can’t base your programme on a few athletes. You’ve got to create depth, and we have some events where we had a lot of athletes who qualified.”

“We also have a lot of young athletes who are hoping to make their mark on the world stage, so I’m confident in the project we have planned up until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and beyond,” said Verster. “We can only succeed if we build depth and get larger teams to qualify for the World Championships and Olympics, and hopefully then we’ll get more people into finals, because you can only get medals if you’re in finals.”

The World Athletics Championships will be held in Tokyo between 13 and 21 September 2025.

Women’s Contingent in Team SA at the 2025 World Athletics Championships

Ashley Erasmus – Shot Put
Charné du Plessis – 800m
Colette Uys – Shot Put
Danielle Nolte – Long Jump
Hannah van Niekerk – 4x400m Mixed
Jessica Groenewald – 35 km Race Walk
Jo-Ané du Plessis – Javelin Throw
Marlie Viljoen – 4x400m Mixed
Marioné Fourie – 100m
Miné de Klerk – Shot Put
Miranda Coetzee – 400m
Miré Reinstorf – Pole Vault
Precious Molepo – 4x400m Mixed
Prudence Sekgodiso – 800m
Rogail Joseph – 400m Hurdles
Shirley Nekhubui – 400m
Zenéy van der Walt – 400m Hurdles

2025 World Athletics Championships Competition Details (All times CAT)

Saturday, 13 September

01:00 – 35km Walk: Jessica Groenewald
04:55 – 4x400m Relay Mixed Heats: Team SA TBC
11:30 – Long Jump Qualification: Danielle Nolte
15:20 – 4x400m Relay Mixed Final: Team SA TBC

Sunday, 14 September

04:28 – 100m Hurdles Heats: Marioné Fourie
12:25 – 400m Heats: Shirley Nekhubui, Miranda Coetzee
13:40 – High Jump Qualification: Danielle Nolte

Monday, 15 September

02:05 – Pole Vault Qualification: Miré Reinstorf
04:20 – 400m Hurdles Heats: Zenéy van der Walt, Rogail Joseph
14:05 – 100m Hurdles Semi-Finals: Marioné Fourie
15:20 – 100m Hurdles Final: Marioné Fourie

Tuesday, 16 September

14:05 – 400m Semi-Final: Shirley Nekhubui, Miranda Coetzee

Wednesday, 17 September

13:10 – Pole Vault Final: Miré Reinstorf
14:00 – 400m Hurdles Semi-Final: Zenéy van der Walt, Rogail Joseph

Thursday, 18 September

12:55 – 800m Heats: Prudence Sekgodiso, Charné du Plessis
15:24 – 400m Final: Shirley Nekhubui, Miranda Coetzee

Friday, 19 September

12:30 – Javelin Throw Qualification: Jo-Ané du Plessis
13:45 – 800m Semi-Finals: Prudence Sekgodiso, Charné du Plessis
14:27 – 400m Hurdles Final: Zenéy van der Walt, Rogail Joseph

Saturday, 20 September

03:00 – Shot Put Qualification: Ashley Erasmus, Miné de Klerk, Colette Uys
12:54 – Shot Put Final: Ashley Erasmus, Miné de Klerk, Colette Uys 
13:00 – 4x400m Relay Heats: Team SA TBC
14:05 – Javelin Throw Final: Jo-Ané du Plessis 

Sunday, 21 September

12:35 – 800m Final: Prudence Sekgodiso, Charné du Plessis
13:40 – 4x400m Relay Final: Team SA TBC

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Main Photo Caption: Seventeen women will represent the nation in Team South Africa at the World Athletics Championship, looking to achieve personal goals and podium finishes in the traditional nations’ medals race starting in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, 13 September, 2025. Photo: Christel Saneh / World Athletics