"The plan was to qualify for the world juniors" – Koekemoer breaks SA U20 record with storming run at SuperSport Simbine Classic

He may have left it late, but Leendert Koekemoer delivered when it mattered most, booking his place at the World Athletics Junior Championships in emphatic style. 

The University of Johannesburg athlete dipped under 45 seconds in the 400m for the first time in his career, clocking a blistering 44.94 at the inaugural SuperSport Simbine Classic World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting at the Pilditch Stadium yesterday (April 28). Running in the pre-programme, the 18-year-old set an already buzzing stadium alight, shaving 0.09 off his own national U20 record of 45.03 to become the first South African junior to break the 45-second barrier.

"I don’t think it's gone to my head, but I feel very good," he told #TheTopRunner. "The race was good, the conditions were perfect. I felt strong from the start and just executed."

Koekemoer broke his own U20 national record to qualify for the World Athletics Junior Championships. Photo Credit: Anton Geyser.

Despite missing both the national junior and senior championships due to injury, Koekemoer never lost belief in his ability to qualify for the global showpiece in Eugene, USA, this August.

"The world juniors is something I’ve been working towards for the past few years. The plan coming into this race was to qualify, and I got it right."

Koekemoer now has his sights set on keeping the one-lap title in South African hands — following in the footsteps of Okon and Lythe Pillay.

“The target is gold,” he said. “I’m very fit at the moment, and I think at the world juniors I’m going to shock a lot of people.”

Koekemoer is looking forward to representing South Africa with distinction at the world Relays in Gaborone, Botswana from 2-3 May just as he did in China last year when he was part of the team that won the 4x400m gold medal. Photo Credit: Supplied.

But before turning his attention to Eugene, Koekemoer's immediate focus is on the World Athletics Relays Championships in Gaborone this weekend, where he will form part of a formidable South African men’s 4x400m squad. The team — featuring Wayde van Niekerk, Pillay, Zakithi Nene, Okon and Gardeo Isaacs — will be aiming to defend the title they won Guangzhou, China, last year.

"We won’t disappoint," he said. "We’re going there to do our best and make the country proud."