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    Prudence Sekgodiso Leads 19 South African Women into African Athletics Title Defence in Accra

    Prudence MakogeBy No Comments6 Mins Read


    Defending African champions South Africa send a 19-strong women’s contingent into action as the title defence begins at the 24th CAA African Athletics Senior Championships, with 2025 World Indoor 800m champion Prudence Sekgodiso, defending 400m hurdles African champion Rogail Joseph and 100m hurdler Marione Fourie spearheading Team SA at the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon, Accra, Ghana from Tuesday, 12 May to Sunday, 17 May, 2026.

    Athletics South Africa names seven former continental medallists in a women’s group built on a blend of established stars and emerging glory seekers. Acting Athletics South Africa President John Mathane said the squad has been selected to defend the African crown and maintain the dignity of the nation, with a good balance between experience and fresh glory seekers, all hungry for the podium.

    From the gsport Newsroom Archives, March 2025

    The women head to Accra off the back of South Africa’s emphatic 2024 medal haul in Douala, where Team SA topped the standings with 19 medals overall, including nine gold, ending an eight-year wait to reclaim the African title last lifted at home in Durban in 2016.

    Sekgodiso, 24, arrives in form, having made history at the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing when she became the first South African woman to win world indoor gold over 800m, clocking a national record 1:58.40. The Paris 2024 Olympic finalist will be a podium favourite over two laps. Over 1,500m, Karabo More carries the South African baton, with Tayla Kavanagh stepping up in the 5,000m and Karabo Mailula taking on the 10,000m. Carina Swiegers contests the 3,000m steeplechase.

    In the hurdles, Joseph returns as the only individual South African defending champion in Accra after winning 400m hurdles gold in Douala. Fourie, fresh from her national 100m hurdles title in Stellenbosch, lines up in what is expected to be a marquee meeting with Nigeria’s 2022 world champion Tobi Amusan. On the flat, Joviale Mbisha contests the 100m, Kayla la Grange the 200m and Marlie Viljoen the 400m, all of whom are also relay options.

    The field events deliver another deep South African challenge. High jumper Kristi Snyman, pole vaulter Ansume de Beer, long jumper Danielle Nolte and triple jumper Zinzi Xulu lead the jumps. Versatile thrower Colette Uys has been entered in both the shot put and the discus throw, with Leandri Holtzhausen in the hammer and former continental medallist Jana van Schalkwyk in the javelin. Enya Pooler contests the heptathlon and Zelda Botha takes on the 21km race walk.

    Competing the 100m is Joviale Mbisha, of the record-breaking SA 4x100m at the World Athletics Relays. Photo: Cecilia van Bers
    Competing the 100m is Joviale Mbisha, of the record-breaking SA 4x100m at the World Athletics Relays. Photo: Cecilia van Bers / Athletics SA

    Alongside Sekgodiso, Joseph and Fourie, the women’s group of previous continental medallists includes Nolte, Xulu, Van Schalkwyk and Uys, with the squad strengthened further by a clutch of senior debutants.

    South Africa is also expected to feature in the mixed 4x400m relay, a medal event in which Team SA struck gold at the 2024 edition of these championships in Douala.

    Athletics South Africa confirmed the squad is travelling in two waves, with the first group having departed on Monday, 11 May at 3am, the second group set to follow on Thursday, 14 May, and the full team scheduled to return home on Monday, 18 May, 2026.

    Six days of continental track and field begin today on the University of Ghana track, with the South African women in green and gold opening a campaign that will set the tone for the international calendar ahead, including the World Athletics Championships and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

    The Women’s Contingent for Team South Africa at the 24th CAA African Athletics Senior Championships, Accra, Ghana, 12 to 17 May 2026

    Joviale Mbisha: 100m (CGA)
    Kayla la Grange: 200m (CGA)
    Marlie Viljoen: 400m (AGN)
    Prudence Sekgodiso: 800m (KZNA)
    Karabo More: 1,500m (AGN)
    Tayla Kavanagh: 5,000m (KZNA)
    Karabo Mailula: 10,000m (AGN)
    Carina Swiegers: 3,000m Steeplechase (AGN)
    Marione Fourie: 100m Hurdles (AGN)
    Rogail Joseph: 400m Hurdles (ACNW)
    Kristi Snyman: High Jump (WPA)
    Ansume de Beer: Pole Vault (BOL)
    Danielle Nolte: Long Jump (AGN)
    Zinzi Xulu: Triple Jump (AGN)
    Colette Uys: Shot Put, Discus Throw (AGN)
    Leandri Holtzhausen: Hammer Throw (CGA)
    Jana van Schalkwyk: Javelin Throw (BOL)
    Zelda Botha: 21km Race Walk (CGA)
    Enya Pooler: Heptathlon (BOL)

    Main Photo Caption: Prudence Sekgodiso, 1500m champion at the SuperSport Simbine Classic, spearheads a 19-strong South African women’s contingent as defending African champions Team SA begin their title defence at the 24th CAA African Athletics Senior Championships at the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon, Accra, Ghana from Tuesday, 12 May to Sunday, 17 May, 2026. File Photo: Roelien Geyser / Athletics SA

    Photo 2 Caption: Competing the 100m will be Joviale Mbisha, of the record-breaking SA 4x100m World Athletics Relays acclaim. Photo: Cecilia van Bers / Athletics SA



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