Sekgodiso drags Swart-Du Plessis to World Champs qualifying time

Middle-distance runners Prudence Sekgodiso and Charne Swart-Du Plessis delivered an incredible race for fans at NWU McArthur Stadium in Potchefstroom on Friday, with both athletes dipping under 1:59.00 in the women’s 800m final at the SA Athletics Championships in Potchefstroom.

World indoor champion Sekgodiso went out hard and Swart-Du Plessis stuck to her shoulder on the first lap but Sekgodiso started to draw clear after the bell.

However, Swart-Du Plessis launched a furious kick over the last 200m and very nearly shut down her more fancied compatriot.

Sekgodiso won gold in 1:58.80 and Swart-Du Plessis grabbed the silver medal in a personal best 1:58.98, qualifying for the World Championships to be held in Tokyo in September.

Sekgodiso had already booked her place in the SA team for the global showpiece after achieving the qualifying standard of 1:59.00 last year.

‘I’m happy for Charne’

“The race was a bit tactical. The plan was to go fast in the first 400m but it might have been a bit too fast, and my legs were a bit tired, to be honest,” Sekgodiso said afterwards.

“I just told myself ‘you know what, you’ve got this, you’ve got to keep your head up’. But I ran under two minutes, and I’m happy for Charne as well because she qualified for the World Championships, and at least now I won’t be alone (in Tokyo). I’ll have someone on my side.”

Swart admitted afterwards that she was more concerned about running a fast time than trying to beat Sekgodiso, in order to achieve the automatic qualifying standard for the World Championships.

“I knew if I could automatically qualify for Tokyo it would make my season a lot easier because there’s a lot of other things I can focus on.

“It also opens doors for me in Europe, so I knew I couldn’t run a tactical race and I couldn’t go slow.”

Sekgodiso went on to retain her national 1 500m title later in the day in 4:11.34, again holding off a challenge from Swart-Du Plessis who finished second in 4:12.30.