Star studded field takes to the tracks at SA Athletics Championships
The South African Athletics Championships, set to kick off in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday, is poised to showcase the talents of star sprinters Akani Simbine and Wayde van Niekerk, who are expected to headline the competition over the four-day event.
Simbine, a five-time major global finalist in the 100m sprint, will be aiming to secure his sixth South African title in the short dash, facing stiff competition from the likes of Benjamin Richardson, Gift Leotlela, and rising stars Neo Modibe and Bayanda Walaza.
Simbine, who recently set a national 150m best of 15.04 seconds and clocked 20.32 in the 200m event, is eager to extend his domestic dominance and defend his title at the championships.
Speaking after his impressive performances, Simbine expressed his focus on the upcoming nationals, stating, “My next race is at nationals, and I want to make sure I get the job done there.”
In the 200m event, all eyes will be on the iconic Wayde van Niekerk, who is preparing for the Olympic Games in Paris later this year.
Van Niekerk, a former African champion and World Championships medalist over the half-lap distance, is aiming to clinch his fourth national 200m title.
Competing at the Msunduzi Stadium, van Niekerk is set to face tough competition from SA record holder Clarence Munyai, Sinesipho Dambile, and others in the field.
The competition promises to be action-packed across various events, with athletes like Adrian Wildschutt, Le Roux Hamman, and Kyle Blignaut set to showcase their skills in the men’s 5,000m race, 400m hurdles, and shot put, respectively.
Among the elite women, Marione Fourie, Zeney Geldenhuys, Prudence Sekgodiso, Viwe Jingqi, and Mine de Klerk are expected to shine in their respective events, adding to the excitement and anticipation surrounding the championships.