Track and Field

South Africa’s two 400-meter relay teams both won gold medals, continuing the nation’s strong showing at its first African Athletics Championships in Pamplemousses, Mauritius. Banned from competing in the previous seven African championships, South Africa has won the most events, seven, in the first two days of the competition, two more than Nigeria.

Bobang Phiri, one of the few blacks on South Africa’s newly integrated squad, won the 400-meter race in 45.42 seconds. Other South African winners included Okkert Brits, who cleared 17 feet 6 inches in the pole vault, and Elinda Vorster, who was timed in 11.26 seconds in the women’s 100-meter dash.