Prudence Sekgodiso powers to third in the 800m at the Stockholm Diamond League, adding to South Africa’s medal tally. Image: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.
(The Post News)– South Africa’s track stars continued to impress on the global stage, earning two podium finishes during the seventh leg of the Diamond League series in Stockholm on Sunday evening.
Prudence Sekgodiso put on another stellar show in the women’s 800m, fighting to a third-place finish in a tightly contested race. The world indoor champion clocked 1:58.00, trailing closely behind Great Britain’s Georgia Hunter Bell, who surged to victory in 1:57.66. Kenya’s Mary Moraa, the reigning outdoor world champion, came in second with a time of 1:57.83, just 0.17 seconds ahead of Sekgodiso, who also picked up crucial Diamond League points.
Although not part of the official Diamond League events, Bradley Nkoana also delivered a strong performance in the men’s 100m pre-programme. He raced to second in 10.23 seconds, narrowly edged out by Ghana’s Benjamin Asamati, who crossed in 10.18. Unfortunately, national champion Gift Leotlela was disqualified for a false start, cutting his evening short.
In the men’s 200m, newcomer Abduraghmaan Karriem made his Diamond League debut, finishing fifth in 20.52 seconds. Cuba’s Reynier Mena led the field with a winning time of 20.05.
Athletics South Africa President James Moloi praised the efforts, noting that every podium result counts towards building a culture of excellence. He added that even setbacks, like a false start, offer lessons and a chance to fine-tune for the World Championships in Tokyo this September. The next stop on the Diamond League calendar is Paris, set for Friday.
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