18 years old South African sprinter Bayanda Walaza continues to make history as he clocked 9.94 seconds in the men’s 100 meters at the Boris Hanžeković Memorial in Zagreb, recording the fourth fastest time in South African sprint history, and putting him in the top ten fastest South African sprinters in history.
Bayanda Walaza confirmed his status as one of the brightest young prospects in world athletics on Saturday night, clocking a sensational 9.94 seconds in the men’s 100 meters at the Boris Hanžeković Memorial in Zagreb.
Walaza produced his best performance of his career to date, crossing the finish line ahead of an experienced international field and becoming one of the youngest African sprinters to dip under the elusive 10-second mark.
It was a statement performance from Walaza, who had shown glimpses of his potential throughout the early part of the 2025 season. But in Zagreb, under the lights and in front of a packed Croatian crowd, he delivered on the big stage.
“I knew I had a time like this in me,” Walaza told reporters after the race. “My training has been consistent, and my coach kept telling me it was only a matter of time.”
Walaza’s time of 9.94s is not only a personal best, it also places him among the top 10 fastest South African sprinters in history, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Akani Simbine and Wayde van Niekerk in national sprinting folklore.
The Boris Hanžeković Memorial, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series, has long been a proving ground for rising stars. This year’s 75th edition was no different, with Walaza stealing the spotlight.
With the World Athletics Championships and Olympic qualifiers looming, all eyes will now be on the teenager from Johannesburg, who looks set to become a fixture in global sprinting headlines.
One thing is clear: Bayanda Walaza has arrived.
