Team SA’s Udeme Okon claimed an upset win in the men’s 400m final at the Under-20 World Championships in Peru on Thursday night.
Okon crossed the line in 45.69 seconds to take the victory after he overhauled Americans Jayden Davis (46.08) and Sidi Njie (46.29) in the final straight.
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Lythe Pillay, who competed at the Paris Olympics, won the previous Under-20 World Championship in 2022, meaning South Africa has reigned supreme in the event over the last two editions.
Okon has a Nigerian father and South African mother but has chosen to compete for the Rainbow Nation. The 18-year-old Florida Park High School pupil in Johannesburg only began full athletics training earlier this season.
Inevitable comparisons are already being drawn between Okon and world record holder Wayde van Niekerk. Though it has to be pointed out that van Niekerk matured as an athlete slightly later than Okon, their times at comparative ages make for interesting reading.
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Okon’s best times in the 100m, 200m, and 400m are 10.34, 20.54, and 45.41 respectively, while van Niekerk at the age of 20 boasted personal bests of 10.48, 20.57, and 46.43 over the same events.
A day prior, in the men’s 100m, Bayanda Walaza lived up to the hype and expectations to deliver gold. The 18-year-old, who was part of Team SA’s 4x100m relay silver medal-winning team at the Paris Olympics earlier this month, was the favourite in his race and stormed to victory in 10.19.
