The Free State is hopeful for silverware from two international competitions, the Commonwealth Games to be held in England and the World Athletics U20 Championships in Colombia.
Six athletes are heading to Colombia and one to Birmingham, England.
Those billed for the showpiece in Colombia are Tjaart van der Walt (400 m and 4 x 400), Natasha Gertenbach (100 m hurdles), Mthi Mthimkulu (mixed 4 x 400 m), Mukhethwa Tshifura (4 x 100 m), Aron Alvarez Aranda (discus) and Joane Gerber (long jump), as well as Lucky Moleyane (4 x 100 m), included as replacement.
Moleyane will compete in the relay sprinting event with fellow athletes who set a world record of 38,51 in the 4 x 100 m final at the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships in Kenya.
The Free State crew is included in the South African team consisting of 47 athletes.
Yolandi Stander (long jump) jetted off for Birmingham on Sunday (24/07) to compete at the Commonwealth Game. She one part of the 389 athletes in the South African team.
The Commonwealth Games features multiple sporting codes: badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, hockey, lawn bowls, shooting, squash, table tennis, triathlon, weightlifting and wrestling.
The World Athletics U20 Championships will be held from 1 to 6 August at the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero in Cali, while the Commonwealth Games takes place from 28 July to 8 August.
After a lengthy spell, this is the first time the Free State will have representation in different global competitions, boasting seven athletes. These athletes were selected on merited performance under their respective mentors, Elinda Vorster, Emmarie Prinsloo, Hennie Aucamp, Maryna van der Walt, Elizna Pretorius and Dr Ben de Klerk.
It will be a first for most of the athletes billed for the World Junior Championships showdown.
