Kaili Botje

Happy birthday to South Africa’s sprinter Kaili Botje, a double national schools champion who has worn the green and gold at a World Championships.

Paarl, April 2024. Over two days at the South African High School Championships, Kaili won the 100m in 11.67 and then won the 200m in 23.51, both with a legal wind, both from the front. Winning one national sprint title is hard. Winning both, at the same championships, means nobody in the country your age could touch you over any distance from the gun to the finish.

She backed it with silver over 100m at the South African age-group championships in Tshwane, running 11.66 and hitting the World U20 qualifying standard in the process. Selection followed: she went to Lima with the South African team for the World U20 Championships in the 100m and the 4x100m relay, and she spent her birthday there, at a world championships, in a national vest.

She came through Hoërskool Randburg and competes for Central Gauteng, and 23.42 over 200m is a serious mark in a country that has never been short of sprinters.

Veels geluk met jou verjaarsdag, Kaili! Wishing you a year of fast lanes, following winds and everything you go after. Halala! 🎂🎁🎉🫶🫶🇿🇦