Long jump ace Luvo Manyonga reclaimed the national title for the first time in seven years. The former Olympic silver medallist is enjoying a triumpant return to competition.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will feature a leaner programme than previous editions, with just 10 sports on the schedule compared to the 19 contested in Birmingham four years ago.
The reduced programme, coupled with stringent selection criteria and South Africa's growing depth in several disciplines, has resulted in a smaller Team SA contingent heading to Glasgow. While the 112 athletes selected boast genuine medal potential, there are several notable absentees who, under different circumstances, could also have been challenging for podium places.
Between them, the quartet of Bayanda Walaza, Luvo Manyonga, Leendert Koekemoer and Antonio Alkana includes an Olympic medallist, a world champion, an African record-holder and one of the fastest sprinters in the world this season.
No omission is likely to attract more attention than that of Walaza.
