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Eighteen-year-old Bayanda Walaza electrified the 75th Boris Hanzeković Memorial in Zagreb on May 24, 2025, roaring down the track to win the men’s 100 m in a wind-legal 9.94 seconds against a −0.3 m/s headwind. His decisive burst left seasoned competitors more than two-tenths of a second behind and marked the fastest U20 performance in the world so far this season.
Shattering the National U20 Record
In clocking 9.94 s, Walaza shaved five hundredths off his own South African U20 record of 9.99 s, set just two months earlier in Tshwane. His time under adverse wind conditions highlights not only his raw speed but also advanced technical prowess for his age. After the race, he admitted even he was surprised: “I hoped for a PB, but 9.94 s exceeded my expectations. This motivates me to train harder for senior races.”
Fourth-Fastest 100 m in South African History
Walaza’s performance catapults him to joint fourth on the all-time South African 100 m list. He now shares that spot with Henricho Bruintjies (9.94 s), trailing only national record-holder Akani Simbine (9.82 s), Olympic champion Wayde van Niekerk (9.84 s), and Clarence Munyai (9.89 s). Achieving such a ranking as a teenager underscores the magnitude of his potential.
Breaking into the Top Ten All-Time
Beyond U20 distinctions, 9.94 s places Walaza among the top ten fastest South African sprinters ever. He leaps ahead of several seasoned international finalists, staking his claim as the next major force in South African sprinting and a likely future finalist at world championships and Olympic finals.
The Prestigious Meeting: Boris Hanzeković Memorial
Held annually at Zagreb’s Sportski Park Mladost, the Boris Hanzeković Memorial is a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet that draws elite sprinters, middle-distance stars, and throwers. Walaza’s triumph, paired with other standout performances such as Julien Alfred’s dominant 200 m win, made this edition one of the most memorable in recent years for emerging talent.
Implications for the Future of SA Athletics
South Africa has been searching for its next sprint superstar since the era of Simbine and van Niekerk. Walaza’s breakthrough not only fills that void but also injects fresh optimism into the national program. His emergence could catalyze investment in junior development, coaching resources, and high-performance facilities across the country.
Looking Ahead: From Promise to Podium
At just eighteen, Walaza already boasts a sub-10 clocking, a U20 national record, and a Continental Tour Gold medal. With the World Championships and Paris 2028 Olympics on the horizon, his focus will turn to consistency, strength development, and racing against the world’s best. If his trajectory holds, Bayanda Walaza may soon be standing on global podiums, carrying forward South Africa’s storied sprinting legacy.
