Athletics
BYD – powering the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon towards road running excellence
In a major boost to the quest to return the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon to its former glory, BYD was announced as the event’s first presenting partner at the TTOM Sponsor Announcement Press Conference, hosted at a Constantia restaurant this morning (Thursday 12 March).
The Chinese-based company, BYD, has offices in eighty countries and is the world’s number one producer of electric cars, having overtaken Tesla in total electric vehicle production in the last two years.
And adding lustre to the ‘World’s Most Beautiful Marathon’, which will now be known as the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon powered by BYD, was the confirmation of Lindsay Parry as official TTOM coach and that Heart FM will also be joining the Two Oceans party.
“This is a proud and exciting moment for us as we welcome BYD as Presenting Sponsor of the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon from 2026,” said Chris Goldschmidt, Chairperson of the Two Oceans Marathon NPC. “This partnership reflects a shared commitment to excellence, innovation and community. BYD’s leadership in new energy vehicles (NEV’s), including advanced electric mobility solutions, aligns strongly with our vision for a more sustainable future.”
BYD stands for ‘build your dreams’ and for Wade Bromfield, General Manager of the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon, the partnership is clearly a dream come true.
“From the outset, our ambition has been to restore and elevate the World’s Most Beautiful Marathon to its former glory,” Bromfield stated. “Securing our first-ever Presenting Sponsor marks a major milestone in that journey. With BYD’s innovation and energy behind us, we are proud to power the next era of the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon.”
The announcement was a proud moment for BYD South Africa MD, Steve Chang. “We looked carefully at a number of potential sporting partnership opportunities in South Africa before deciding to join the Two Oceans team.
“Coming on board with the Totalsport Two Oceans seemed like a perfect fit,” Chang continued. “The partnership echoes many of our brands commitments, including innovation, sustainability and enhancing mobility.”
Nomonde Kweyi, Marketing Director of BYD South Africa – MEA Region was equally enthusiastic. “This partnership gives us a unique platform to showcase how clean, efficient and future-focused mobility can enhance major events. Expect to see our vehicles up close – from lead and support cars on race day to interactive displays and engagements in the lead-up to the event.”
And bringing new heart to TTOM, Heart FM Managing Director, Renee Redelinghuys, promised that the popular radio station will add to the party-feel on race day. “The TTOM is an iconic Cape Town event. We are deeply rooted in Cape Town and it makes sense to align our two brands.
Giving the TTOM a heart-felt boost is the announcement that Heart Radio has come on board as a 2026 TTOM partner. Heart FM Managing Director Rene Redelinghuys in conversation with Mosibodi Whitehead
“The Two Oceans gives us an opportunity to expose our brand by linking with runners, supporters and spectators on race day. We are going to be bringing the ‘gees’ through our live activations along the route. Our ‘Heart Squad’ will put smiles on the faces of both runners and spectators!”
Pretoria-based Parry, who has coached some of South Africa’s leading ultra-marathons, including former Two Oceans and Comrades Marathon champions, Caroline Woestmann and Charne Rademeyer, revealed his close connections to Cape Town, where he completed his Sports Science studies. “My Two Oceans journey started in 2000 with the Half Marathon, then two years later I ran my first 56km and I now have my blue number and I’m looking forward to helping runners achieve their goals this year.
“While the 56km runners will have completed much of their preparation by now, there’s a lot we can do to enhance the Half Marathoners’ race day experience,” Parry remarked. “We will be able to make training plans available and podcasts will educate runners about how to approach each stage of the race.”
Goody bags are always a key element for runners and the announcement by BYD that they will be contributing a high-tech moisture-wicking running cap completes a veritable runner’s wardrobe promised in this year’s race goody bag.
“Every runner at registration will receive an official Totalsports Two Oceans event bag,” said Stillwater Sports Managing Director, Michael Meyer. “In the bag will be a Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon event T-shirt, plus the BYD cap, plus a buff from Cipla and a pair of Versus socks – a massive step forward from 2025 and a major contribution to the runners’ experience at Two Oceans this year.”
The post BYD – powering the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon towards road running excellence appeared first on Sports Network Africa.
Nigeria’s trio of Rosemary Chukwuma, Blessing Ogundiran and Miracle Ezechukwu will battle for places in the women’s 100m final at the 2026 Commonwealth Games after learning their semi-final opponents in Glasgow on Tuesday.
With only the automatic qualifiers and fastest losers expected to progress to the medal race, all three Nigerians will need near season-best performances to keep Nigeria’s hopes alive.
Chukwuma Leads Nigeria’s Strongest Medal Hope
Rosemary Chukwuma has been drawn in Semi-final 1 and appears to have Nigeria’s best chance of reaching the final.
The Nigerian, who owns a personal best of 10.88 seconds and a season’s best of 10.95 seconds, is the second-fastest athlete in her race based on personal bests.
She will line up against Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye (10.82 PB), Australia’s Torrie Lewis (11.04), Canada’s Audrey Leduc (10.94), Jamaica’s Jodean Williams (10.97), Gambia’s Gina Mariam Bass Bittaye (10.93), England’s Mabel Akande (11.18) and Antigua and Barbuda’s G. Dowdye (11.34).
If Chukwuma produces a clean start and runs close to her personal best, she is well placed to secure one of the automatic qualifying spots or advance as a fastest loser.
Ogundiran Faces Tough Battle in Semi-final 2
Newly crowned Nigerian champion Blessing Ogundiran has been handed a difficult assignment in Semi-final 2.
The 10.98-second sprinter will race against Canada’s Sade McCreath (10.86 PB), Trinidad and Tobago’s Leah Bertrand (10.92), England’s Imani Lansiquot (10.99), British Virgin Islands’ Beyoncé Defreitas (11.14), Australia’s Ella Lane (11.29), Barbados’ Kishawna Niles (11.33) and Gabon’s P.L. Moulin (11.35).
Ogundiran’s personal best puts her among the leading contenders in the field, but she will need another sub-11-second performance to guarantee a place in the final.
Ezechukwu Out to Continue Dream Debut
After an impressive victory in her opening-round heat, Miracle Ezechukwu faces an even sterner challenge in Semi-final 3.
The youngster, who clocked 11.32 seconds to win her heat despite running from lane eight, owns a personal and season’s best of 11.15 seconds.
She will face Jamaica’s J. Smith (10.89 PB), New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs (10.94), England’s Amy Hunt (10.97), Singapore’s Veronica Shanti Pereira (11.20), Canada’s G. Cole (11.17), Australia’s G. Harris (11.38) and Zambia’s Edna Ng’andula (11.48).
While the race features several established international sprinters, Ezechukwu has already shown she can rise to the occasion. Another personal-best performance could put her in contention for a place in the final.
Nigeria’s Chances
Among the Nigerian trio, Rosemary Chukwuma appears to have the strongest opportunity to reach the final based on experience and personal best.
Blessing Ogundiran also has a realistic chance if she reproduces the form that saw her claim the Nigerian title, while Miracle Ezechukwu enters as the outsider but carries momentum after her confidence-boosting heat victory.
Should all three Nigerians produce their best performances, Nigeria could realistically have two, and possibly even all three, athletes lining up in the women’s 100m final later on Tuesday.
The post Glasgow 2026: Chukwuma, Ogundiran, Ezechukwu Face Stern Test in Women’s 100m Semi-finals appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.
Athletics
Commonwealth Games 2026: Kanyinsola Ajayi Faces Omanyala, Saminu in Blockbuster Men’s 100m Semi-final
Nigeria’s sprint sensation Kanyinsola Ajayi will face one of the toughest tests of his Commonwealth Games campaign after being drawn in a star-studded Men’s 100m Semi-final 2 at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The Nigerian record holder is set to line up against an elite field that includes Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya,
Ghana’s Abdul-Rasheed Saminu, Wales’ Jeremiah Azu, South Africa’s Bradley Nkoana, England’s Elliot Jones, Trinidad and Tobago’s Omari Lewis, and Australia’s Rohan Browning.
Ajayi, who owns a personal best of 9.84 seconds, will be aiming to secure one of the automatic qualification spots or advance as one of the fastest losers into the final in what promises to be the most competitive of the three semi-finals.
Nigeria will have three representatives in the men’s 100m semi-finals, with Favour Ashe, Kanyinsola Ajayi, and Alaba Nathan Fakorede all chasing places in the final.
With Ajayi drawn alongside some of the continent’s biggest sprint stars, all eyes will be on Semi-final 2 as the race for Commonwealth Games medals intensifies.
Men’s 100m Semi-final Draw
Semi-final 1
Mark Otieno Babu (Kenya)
Rohan Watson (Jamaica)
Emmanuel Eseme (Cameroon)
Benjamin Azamati (Ghana)
Lachlan Kennedy (Australia)
Favour Ashe (Nigeria)
Clarence Johnson (South Africa)
Duan Asemota (Canada)
Semi-final 2 (7:10 pm Nigerian time)
Elliot Jones (England)
Jeremiah Azu (Wales)
Abdul-Rasheed Saminu (Ghana)
Kanyinsola Ajayi (Nigeria)
Ferdinand Omanyala (Kenya)
Bradley Nkoana (South Africa)
Omari Lewis (Trinidad and Tobago)
Rohan Browning (Australia)
Semi-final 3
Kadeem Griffith (Barbados)
Mpho Koneshe (Lesotho)
Gift Leotlela (South Africa)
Alaba Nathan Fakorede (Nigeria)
Jerome Blake (Canada)
Ackeem Blake (Jamaica)
Edward Nketia (Australia)
Cejhae Greene (Antigua and Barbuda)
The post Commonwealth Games 2026: Kanyinsola Ajayi Faces Omanyala, Saminu in Blockbuster Men’s 100m Semi-final appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.
Uganda’s 800M sensational woman runner Halimah Nakaayi qualified to the semi-final of the women 800M race at the on-going 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Nakaayi was third in the third heat with a time of 2:04.33 at the Scotstoun stadium on Monday afternoon.
England’s Georgia Hunter Bell won the race with 2:02.61 ahead of Jemma Reekie who came second with 2:03.09.
Nicole McKenzie finished fourth (2:05.07) as Abigail Abugire was fifth (2:06.31).
Adi Ceva Sova Lutumailagi and Tanesia Sylvina Gardiner finished 6th and 7th with times of 2:22.58 and 2:24.28 respectively.
Other qualified women:
Heat one had Great Britain’s Sarah Billings (2:01.51), Botswana’s Oratile Nowe (2:02.11) and Kenyan Janet Jepkemoi (2:02.30) as the best three runners.
Heat two had Kenya’s Lilian Odira (2:01.05), Isabelle Boffey (2:01.53) and Jamaican Kelly-Ann Beckford (2:01.63) as the best three.
In the same heat, Rwanda’s Claire Umitonze had her seasonal best timing of 2:06.95.
From heat four; Gabon’s Shafiqua Maloney was outstanding with 2:02.83 ahead of Rachel Klopfenstein (2:03.04) and Scotland’s Erin Wallace (2:03.15).
Uganda is also represented in other sports disciplines as Boxing, Swimming, Weightlifting, Judo and Netball at these games.
The post Commonwealth Games 2026: Uganda’s Nakaayi qualifies to semi-finals | 800M Women appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
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