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While some elite stars will be missing, as they focus on the opening leg of the Diamond League series, there should still be plenty of thrills on the track in Potchefstroom this week.
Prudence Sekgodiso will compete in the 800m and 1 500m events at the SA Athletics Championships. Picture: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
Most of South Africa’s top track and field athletes will converge on Potchefstroom over the next few days, as they chase national titles at the SA Athletics Championships.
We take a look at six individuals to watch at the three-day domestic showpiece starting at Puk McArthur Stadium on Thursday.
Bayanda Walaza
The latest sensation in local athletics, after securing a relay silver medal at the Olympics and two gold medals at the World U20 Championships last year, 19-year Walaza will line up in the 100m and 200m sprints.
He won’t have to deal with SA 100m record holder Akani Simbine, who is competing at a Diamond League meeting in China this weekend, but he will face the likes of 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk and powerful speedster Benji Richardson over both distances.
Prudence Sekgodiso
Having won the world indoor 800m title in China last month, Olympic finalist Sekgodiso should have no trouble securing the national crown over the two-lap distance.
She will have to be on her toes, however, against Charne Swart, who recently dipped under two minutes for the first time in her career at a meeting in Pretoria and should help ensure the pace is fast.
Sekgodiso will also line up as the favourite in defence of her SA crown in the 1,500m event.
Viwe Jingqi
A few years ago, Jingqi became an overnight sensation when she shattered long-standing national youth and junior records in sprint events.
Having struggled with injuries during her junior career, the 20-year-old speedster has recovered, but she has reached a plateau over the last couple of seasons.
Having recently been stunned by 17-year-old Hannah Hope Vermaak at the Golden Grand Prix in Botswana, she should be eager to prove she is still SA’s fastest woman in the 100m and 200m sprints.
Tumi Ramokgopa
It’s rare for a young athlete to display the sort of immense talent possessed by Ramokgopa.
In the absence of national record holder Marione Fourie, who is at this weekend’s Diamond League meeting, the 17-year-old athlete will turn out as the favourite for the SA 100m hurdles title.
After finishing third at last year’s national championships, she will also hope to return to the podium in the 400m hurdles, though she is up against Olympic semifinalists Zeney Geldenhuys and Rogail Joseph.
Njabulo Mbatha
He is not as versatile as Ramokgopa, but 17-year-old Mbatha is showing similar levels of talent, and he might be the catalyst to resurrect South Africa’s former glory in the men’s 400m hurdles event.
Last year he finished fourth in the one-lap final over the barriers at the World U20 Championships in Peru, and after setting a personal best of 49.06 seconds in Gaborone earlier this month, he will be difficult to beat in the race for the national senior title.
Luvo Manyonga
It’s highly unlikely that Manyonga will reclaim the SA long jump title he last won in 2019, with the battle for podium places expected to be led by Cheswill Johnson, Jovan van Vuuren and Nikithemba Hani.
Having been sidelined from the sport for four years, however, due to a recreational drug addiction, it is good to see 34-year-old Manyonga looking fit and healthy.
He won’t find his best form again, but the SA record holder has done well just to return to competitive action.
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