Prudence Sekgodiso looking to add to Team SA’s medal count in Paris

By Ayanda Nyuswa

South Africa’s 800m runner Prudence Sekgodiso will be looking to add to Team SA’s four medals at the Paris Olympics when she takes to the track for the Women’s 800m final on Monday night (21:47 SA time). Sekgodiso ran a great race in the semi finals and finished in second position with a time of 1:57.57, behind Great Britains Keely Hodgkinson (1:56:86), and recorded the third best time on the field.

The 22 year old will be the second South African to compete in a track and field final at the Paris Olympics after Akani Simbine, who fell agonizingly close to a bronze medal in the Men’s 100m final, finishing in fouth position with a South African record – 9.82. A podium finish for Sekgodiso will add to the four medals that South Africa has accumulated up so far at the Paris games, with Tatjana Smith’s gold and silver, Alan Hatherly’s and the Blitzboks respective bronze medals.

Team SA will also be represented in the Men’s 200m Heats on Monday night with former Olympic champion Wayde van Niekerk opening his Olympics in the shorter race after he chose not to compete in his preferred 400m race. He will be joined by sprinters Shaun Maswanganyi and Benjamin Richardson who will compete from 19:55 (SA time).