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There were wins for Sinesipho Dambile and Prudence Sekgodiso, but disappointment for teenage sprinting sensation Bayanda Walaza on the final day of the SA Track and Field Championships in Potchefstrrom.
Dambile missed his father’s funeral to win his second national 200m title, clocking a World Athletics Championships qualifying time of 20.11 seconds after training partner and Olympic relay silver medallist Walzaza s shown a red card following a false start.
Dambile had some work to do as he came out of the bend in fourth place with Olympian and world junior medallist Benjamin Richardson.
Showing excellent top-end speed, Dambile burst over the line in first place, leading the podium to world championship qualifying times. Naeem Jack (20.13) and Karriem Abduraghman (20.15) finished second and third, respectively, reports Olympics.com.
Dambile, who won the 200m title back in 2022, opted to miss his father’s funeral in pursuit of the national crown and world championship qualification. His father passed away earlier this week, reportedly after a long illness.
Earlier, world indoor champion Sekgodiso captured her fifth national title in the women’s 800m in an epic battle with Charné Swart.
Sekgodiso, who became the first South African woman to win a medal at the world indoor championships with her 800m gold in Nanjing, People’s Republic of China, reclaimed her title in a time of 1:58.80. She beat defending champion Swart by just 0.18 in a sprint for the line.
Swart posted a personal best of 1:58.98 and a qualifying time for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo later this year.
Sekgodiso opened a sizeable gap at the bell and looked set for a runaway victory before Swart started to reel her in over the final 100 metres of the race. The Olympic finalist managed to stave off an advancing Swart to secure the crown.
Photo: ANTON GEYSER
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