All three of South Africa's able-bodied track and field medallists at the previous edition of the showpiece have been included in an Athletics South Africa (ASA) provisional squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, between 23 July and 6 August.
ASA has announced a 68-member squad (44 men and 24 women), which has been trimmed slightly from the 72-member preparation squad announced by the federation in December.
The updated squad includes 100m sprinter Akani Simbine, long jumper Jovan Vuuren and 400m hurdler Zeney van der Walt, who all stepped on the podium at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Aside from Simbine, who holds the national men's 100m mark, nine other national record holders are in the squad.
They are 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk, who is included in the 200m event, as well as Tshepo Tshite (1 500m), Adriaan Wildschutt (10 000m) Antonio Alkana (110m hurdles), Luvo Manyonga (long jump), Marione Fourie (100m hurdles), Miné de Klerk (shot put), and marathon runners Elroy Gelant and Glenrose Xaba.
Other notable inclusions are Olympic javelin throw silver medallist Jo-Ane du Plessis and former world indoor 800m champion Prudence Sekgodiso.
The final national athletics team for the 2026 Commonwealth Games will be announced by the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) closer to the event.
SQUAD:
MEN
Akani Simbine (100m/4x100m), Shaun Maswanganyi (100m/4x100m), Gift Leotlela (100m/4x100m), Abduraghmaan Karriem (100m/4x100m), Retshidisitswe Mlenga (100m/4x100m), Tsebo Matsoso (100m/4x100m), Karabo Letebele (100m/4x100m), Bradley Nkoana (100m/4x100m), Bayanda Walaza (100m/4x100m), Sinesipho Dambile (200m/4x100m), Wayde van Niekerk (200m/4x400m), Naeem Jack (200m), Leendert Koekemoer (400m/4x400m), Antonie Nortje (400m/4x400m), Udeme Okon (400m/4x400m), Zakithi Nene (400m/4x400m), Lythe Pillay (400m/4x400m), Gardeo Isaacs (400m/4x400m), Mthi Mthimkulu (400m/4x400m), Tumisang Shezi (400m/4x400m), Tshepo Tshite (1 500m), Ryan Mphahlele (1 500m), Adriaan Wildschutt (10 000m), Antonio Alkana (110m hurdles), Mondray Barnard (110m hurdles), John Adesola (110m hurdles), Njabulo Mbatha (400m hurdles), Sabelo Dhlamini (400m hurdles), Jovan van Vuuren (long jump), Cheswill Johnson (long jump), Luvo Manyonga (long jump), Kyle Blignaut (shot put), Aiden Smith (shot put), Victor Hogan (discus throw), Brian Raats (high jump), Kyle Rademeyer (pole vault), Douw Smith (javelin throw), Elroy Gelant (marathon), Adam Lipschitz (marathon), Thabang Mosiako (marathon), Tumelo Motlagale (marathon), Melikhaya Frans (marathon), Regan Magwai (marathon), Bennett Seloyi (marathon)
WOMEN
Miranda Coetzee (400m/4x400m), Shirley Nekhubui (400m/4x400m), Precious Molepo (400m/4x400m), Zeney van der Walt (400m hurdles/4x400m), Hannah van Niekerk (400m hurdles/4x400m), Rogail Joseph (400m hurdles/4x400m), Marlie Viljoen (400m/4x400m), Prudence Sekgodiso (800m), Aviwe Hoboloshe (800m), Charné du Plessis (800m), Marione Fourie (100m hurdles), Danielle Nolte (long jump), Miré Reinstorf (pole vault), Miné de Klerk (shot put), Ashley Erasmus (shot put), Colette Uys (shot put), Jo-Ane du Plessis (javelin throw), Mckyla van der Westhuizen (javelin throw), Jana van Schalkwyk (javelin throw), Jessica Groenewald (35km walk), Glenrose Xaba (marathon), Cian Oldknow (marathon), Dominique Scott-Efurd (marathon), Gerda Steyn (marathon).