BY THEMBA ZWANE
MANZINI – REPS Athletics Club emerged as the biggest winners at the 2026 Senior National Championships after topping both the team standings and medal table during the competition held at the Mavuso Sports Centre on Saturday.
The club amassed 226 points to comfortably finish ahead of visiting side Mozambique, who collected 134 points, while Correctional Athletics Club completed the top three with 119 points. REPS Athletics Club walked away with 8 gold medals, five silver and bronze.
Fast Track Athletics Club finished fourth with 101 points, followed by TZD Sports Club on 84 points and UEDF Athletics Club on 77. Nhlangano Track Club accumulated 57 points, with Manzini Athletics Club, UNESWA Athletics Club and Mbabane Athletics Club rounding off the top 10.
REPS also led the medal standings after securing 18 medals, made up of eight gold, five silver and five bronze medals. Mozambique matched REPS’ tally of eight gold medals but had to settle for second place with 13 medals overall. TZD Sports Club claimed third position with eight medals.
Among the standout performers was Bongiwe Mahlalela of REPS, who completed a sprint double in the women’s events. She won the 100 metres final in 12.41 seconds, ahead of Mozambique’s Stela Daisy and Cecilia Guambe, before returning to triumph in the 200 metres in 25.69 seconds.
In the men’s sprints, REPS’ Mcebo Mkhaliphi proved unstoppable, claiming gold in both the 100m and 200m. He clocked 10.65 seconds to win the 100m and later produced a time of 21.26 seconds in the 200m final.
TZD Sports Club’s Bongumuzi Matsebula dominated the men’s 400m race, crossing the finish line in 48.40 seconds, while Mozambique’s Francisca Manuel Alberto secured victory in the women’s 800m in 2:20.04.
The men’s 800m title went to Mozambique’s Acacio Acirio Guezane, who won in 1:55.05, edging REPS youngster Sibonakaliso Earnshaw, who settled for silver in 1:56.27. Earnshaw, however, bounced back to claim gold in the men’s 1 500m, clocking 4:02.58.
UEDF Athletics Club stamped its authority in long-distance running through Melusi Khumalo, who won the men’s 5 000m in 14:57.33, leading a remarkable UEDF sweep of the top six positions in the event.
In the field events, Mozambique’s Benedito Jorge Ndlate secured a double triumph after winning both the men’s shot put (12.07m) and discus (34.27m).
REPS concluded the championships on a high note in the relay events, capturing gold in the men’s 4x100m relay with a time of 41.94 seconds and the men’s 4x400m relay in 3:22.06. Mozambique, meanwhile, dominated the women’s relays, winning both the 4x100m and 4x400m titles.
The championships showcased the growing depth of athletics talent in Eswatini, with athletes from local clubs and regional competitors delivering impressive performances across the track and field programme.
SENIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2026 RESULTS:
Place Team Gold Silver Bronze Total
1. REPS ATHLETICS CLUB 8 5 5 18
2. MOZAMBIQUE 8 3 2 13
3. TZD SPORTS CLUB 2 2 4 8
4. FAST TRACK ATHLETICS CLUB 2 1 2 5
5. CORRECTIONAL ATHLETICS CLUB 1 5 4 10
6. NHLANGANO TRACK CLUB 1 3 1 5
7. UEDF ATHLETICS CLUB 1 2 2 5
8. MANZINI ATHLETICS CLUB 0 2 1 3
9. UNESWA ATHLETICS CLUB 0 0 2 2
10. MBABANE ATHLETICS CLUB 0 0 1 1
