Udeme Okon stunned the field as he overhauled two front-running Americans to win the 400m at the under-20 world championships in Lima on Thursday night (Friday morning SA time).
The 18-year-old Grade 11 pupil from Florida Park High School in Johannesburg crossed the line in 45.69sec ahead of Jayden Davis (46.08) and Sidi Njie (46.29) to keep this particular title in South African hands after Lythe Pillays triumph in Colombia two years ago.
After three days of action South Africa was lying second on the medals table behind Ethiopia with two gold, one silver and a bronze.
And Bayanda Walaza, the 100m king in Peru, will attempt to give the country a monopoly on the mens sprint golds when he bids to win the 100-200 double on Friday night (1.47am Saturday morning).
Walaza, also 18, was the quickest in the semifinals on Thursday night (Friday morning SA time), winning his heat in 21.00sec, ahead of American Jaden Wiley in 21.04.
