Leendert Koekemoer Just BROKE A 31-Year Old Record!

Leendert Koekemoer just shattered a South African U20 400m record that had stood for 31 years. Riaan Dempers 45.15 mark finally fell when Koekemoer ran 45.03 in April 2025, and the young South African kept improving from there. In 2026, he became the first South African U20 athlete to break 45 seconds, lowered his personal best to 44.52, and then delivered a 44.35 relay split at the World U20 Championships in Eugene. But Koekemoer’s story is much bigger than one junior record. He has already raced alongside South Africa’s senior men, helped win senior World Athletics Relays gold, contributed to a World Championships bronze campaign, and helped set another national relay record in 2026. After winning individual bronze in Eugene, the big question now is whether he is ready to step into the senior individual 400m or whether South Africa should keep developing him through the relay. #LeendertKoekemoer #TrackAndField #400m #Athletics #SouthAfrica