Sokwakhana Zazini cruises into 400m hurdles Olympic semifinals

Burgersdorp-born sprinter Sokwakhana Zazini cruised to a third place finish in the 400m hurdles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Friday morning.

The 21-year-old Zazini advanced into the Olympic semifinals as one of the automatic four athletes who qualify from each heat, crossing the finish line in a time of 49.51 secs.

Zazini has had his injury troubles

Zazini is one of the athletes that would undoubtedly be happy to have seen the Tokyo Olympics delayed for a year, as he has found his transition to senior athletics tough to come by. A sprinter with obvious talent and ability, he has spent the majority of the 2020 season on the sidelines with an injury but his come back in 2021 was perfectly timed as it coincided with his qualification for the games. 

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An accomplished age groups athlete, Zazini became synonymous with blowing his competition away on the track, therefore it is no surprise that the Tuks Athlete is the holder of two world age group records at both u18 and u20 level. 

Undisputed in age group competitions

Zazini had clinched his u20 title in a record time of 49.42 at the Tampere IAAF World u20 Championships, which were held at Ratina Stadium in Tampere in 2018. He had risen to prominence just the year previous, where he also blew away his competition, clocking an u18 world record time to clinch his title of World u18 Championships winner in a time of 49.27 at the games held in Nairobi, Kenya. 

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2019 would prove to be year of transitions, learning curves and balancing acts for Zazini who took his first steps into the senior athletics arena, while still fulfilling his commitments within the u20 age group. He ran his personal best at all levels when he came second to claim a silver medal at the World Student Games that year. He became the African u20 champion the same year.

Another SA athlete in action today

The semifinals will take place on Sunday evening with Zazini scheduled to form part of the second startlist. His race will begin at 14:15.The second South African that will be on show will be Dominique Scott-Efurd, who will hope for similar fortunes to Zazini when she takes part in the women’s 5 000m heats at 12:26 this afternoon.