SA athletes battle it out for the crown at ASA Senior Championships
JOHANNESBURG – South Africa's best track and field athletes gathered in Potchefstroom last week for the (Athletics South Africa) ASA Senior Championships.
The event was hosted at the MWU McArthur Athletics Stadium from 24-26 April.
KwaZulu-Natal Athletics' Zakithi Nene won gold in the men's 400m final and shattered his personal best in 44.22 seconds.
"I wanted to win the title, which I haven't won for the last couple of years, so I'm very chuffed to be able to take it back home," said Nene.
ALSO READ: All eyes on North West province as Potchefstroom plays host to ASA Senior Championships
The athlete last won the SA title in 2022. At the 2025 championships, he climbed to second place in the all-time national rankings over the one-lap distance.
Only world record holder Wayde van Niekerk (43.03) has run faster.
Athletics Gauteng North's Sinesipho Dambile cruised to a gold medal, 20.11 seconds in the men's 200m, reclaiming his 2022 crown. Naeem Jack came second in 20.13, and Abduraghmaan Karriem snatched the bronze medal in 20.15. All three achieved the qualifying standard of 20.16 for the World Athletics Championships to be held in Tokyo, Japan, in September.
"I had to work hard for it to come back, but I didn't give up, and I managed to win it, so I'm grateful,' said Dambile.
Olympian Prudence Sekgodiso walked away with two gold medals as she held off Charne Swart-Du Plessis in the women's 800m and the 1 500m.
"It's a motivation for me going forward, having Charne pushing me, and I'm glad I'm going to see her on the European circuit. and I know she's going to be amazing," said Sekgodiso.
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jovan van Vuuren won a tight contest for the medals in the men's long jump, landing at 8.00m to reclaim the national title he last won in 2022.
Defending champion Cheswill Johnson (CGA) ended second with a 7.97m leap, and Divaan Manuel of Boland Athletics (BOLA) was four centimetres back in the bronze medal position with a 7.93m jump.
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