Johannesburg matric pupil Leendert Koekemoer, at 17 the youngest member of the national World Relays squad, showed great maturity in the way he helped the South African mens 4x400m triumph at the weekend.
The trip to Guangzhou, China, was Koekemoers first venture overseas, but on the third leg he lifted his team into the lead before handing the baton to anchor Zakithi Nene, who stayed in front the whole way to win by 0.69 sec over Belgium.
Gardeo Isaacs had started solidly, getting around the first lap in Guangzhou in 45.39 sec, and then Udeme Okon, in grade 12 at Florida Park High, clocked the fastest second lap of the final, a speedy 44.24, with South Africa placed second.
And then Koekemoer took over, chasing Kabo Rankgwe of Botswana in the decisive penultimate lap, overhauling him on the home straight and then he still showed quick thinking and slick footwork as he stepped inside to slip the baton to Nene, who took off at the front of the pack before closing out the race in a 2 min 57.50 sec national record.
What was going through my mind was to catch that Botswana guy in front of me, Koekemoer said on his return with the team at OR Tambo on Wednesday evening.