South Sudan’s emerging track and field athletes have announced themselves on the continental stage after delivering impressive performances at the 4th Youth Games in Angola, raising hopes ahead of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Competing under the banner of the South Sudan National Olympic Committee, the young runners secured top-seven finishes and set new national age-group records, signaling steady progress in the country’s athletics development despite limited resources.
In the U17 Boys 400 meters, Agoth Thon Dhuor Deng clocked 51.40 seconds, finishing among the top seven in a highly competitive field. Agoth represents Venus Star Academy in Juba, one of the institutions steadily producing young sprint talent.
The middle-distance events brought even more excitement for Team South Sudan. In the U17 Women’s 1,500 meters, Siham Hassan Osman Terab finished sixth with a time of 5:18.82, setting a U17 national record.
She was joined by teammate David Ochoro Okumang, who delivered one of South Sudan’s standout performances of the games by finishing fourth in the 3,000 meters in 8:32.79, also a U17 national record.
Both Siham and David train with Imagine Athletics Academy in Chukudum, Eastern Equatoria, a growing hub for youth athletics that continues to gain recognition for nurturing long-distance talent.
Sports officials and coaches say the results reflect the impact of grassroots academies and structured youth programs, which are slowly transforming athletics into one of South Sudan’s most promising sports.
With preparations already turning toward Dakar 2026 the first Youth Olympic Games to be hosted on African soil the performances in Angola have injected fresh optimism.
For South Sudan, athletics is no longer just about participation, but about building a competitive team capable of making its mark on the global stage.
