Oh, he didn’t just run, he soared! Sprinting teen sensation Bayanda Walaza didn’t just win the 100m race at the Boris Hankezovic Memorial in Zagreb; he smashed his own national junior record while setting a new one that will certainly be hard to beat!
Sports Park Mladost, Zagreb (26 May 2025) – I think it’s safe to say that sprinting teen sensation Bayanda Walaza is solidifying his position as a global force and breaking history with every race he runs!
In a stunning display of raw power and undeniable talent, this past Saturday, Walaza powerfully shattered yet another record at the Boris Hankezovic Memorial in Zagreb, clocking in at 9.94 seconds in the 100m!
Not only is this the fourth fastest time ever recorded by a South African and a new national junior record, but it also marks the breaking of his very own national U20 record of 9.99, which he set in Tshwane in March.
Walaza finished well clear of German sprinter Owen Ansah, who took second place in Zagreb in 10.20, EWN reports.
The incredible feat comes after the incredible gold win at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, in which Walaza was a part of the team that delivered a world-leading time of 37.61 seconds in the men’s 4x100m relay.
This 19-year-old athlete has been on a meteoric rise since he first caught our attention last year when he made the 2024 SA Olympic team, where he went on to clinch silver in the 4×100 metres relay race. He further won gold in the U20 World Athletics Champs and has shattered just about every record in his midst!
Walaza’s success on the international stage provides an inspiring example of how talent can be cultivated and dreams can be realised. With every race, Bayanda Walaza isn’t just running; he’s breaking history and signalling a thrilling future for South African sprinting!
Sources: World Athletics
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