Race walkers gear up for ASA trials in Tshwane

Places in the national squad will be up for grabs when the country's top race walkers converge on Tshwane for the ASA Race Walking Trials on Saturday at the LC de Villiers Sports Grounds at the University of Pretoria. 

The event will get underway at 7am.

Senior and under 20 athletes will be targeting spots in the SA team for the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships to be held in Brazil on 12 April.

Ensuring the national trials are inclusive, there will also be contests for masters, youth and sub-youth athletes.

Exciting races are on the cards in the men's and women's 21.1km events, which will be held for the first time at the national trials following World Athletics adjustments to championship race walking distances.

In the men's half-marathon, all three medallists from last year's 20km race at the ASA Senior Championships in Potchefstroom - Rivers Williams, Antonio Farmer and Philasande Mlambo - will toe the line along with former national 35km champion, Tumisang Pule.

Among the women, a close race is expected in a field which includes the likes of national 20km champion Marissa Swanepoel, former African U20 Championships medallist Janise Nell and experienced athlete Zelda Botha who won the SA 20km title in 2021.

Over the 30km distance, the men's race features former national 20km champion Sizwe Ndebele, who finished sixth at the African Games in Ghana in 2024, as well as former national 50km champion Mthunzi Mnisi.

The women's line-up is spearheaded by Jessica Groenewald, the African record holder in the 35km event and a two-time national 20km champion.

Other races on the programme include a 10km contest for U20 and masters athletes, a 5km event for U18 athletes, and 3km and 1km races for sub-youth competitors.