SA walkers set sights on world stage in Brazil

A five-member South African squad left on Thursday afternoon for the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships to be held in Brasilia, Brazil on Sunday.

The national team includes three men who will compete in the men's half-marathon (21.1km) race. National champion Rivers Williams will be joined by Antonio Farmer and Tumisang Pule. In the women's half-marathon contest, the nation will be represented by Zelda Botha, while Yamkela Shosha goes in the Under-20 men's 10km event.

"This is such an exciting opportunity, not only for me but for the whole team," said 34-year-old Botha, the most experienced athlete in the squad, who won the national trials in Tshwane earlier this year. "I'm always proud to put on a South African vest and this is a chance for all of us to compete against world-class athletes, so we're looking forward to representing our country."

Team leader and coach Chris Britz, said this was the perfect event, especially for younger competitors, to gain valuable experience. "The World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships is a great event to introduce athletes to race walking competitions at international level," Britz said.

"It is very competitive... but it's not as tense as the World Athletics Championships or Olympic Games, so it's a good opportunity, especially for the youngsters to see what race walking and international competitions are about.

For some of them it will be the first time they're exposed to international judging, and also how these competitions are run at international level, in order for them to be able to step up to the next stage."