South Africa's Prudence Sekgodiso reacts after winning the women's 800m event during the Kip Keino Classic, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour 2022, at the Kasarani stadium in Nairobi The 22-year-old Prudence Sekgodiso powered to victory in a personal best of 1:57.26 at the Diamond League meeting in Marrakesh, Morocco on Sunday. Photo: Tony Karumba/AFP
Rising South African women’s 800m star Prudence Sekgodiso is aiming to make the final of the event at the Paris Olympics.
The 22-year-old powered to victory in a personal best of 1:57.26 at the Diamond League meeting in Marrakesh, Morocco on Sunday.
It was also the fastest time in the event in the world this year, meaning Sekgodiso has vaulted to the top of the list of athletes to watch in the women’s 800m this season.
For comparison, Sekgodiso’s time was just 0.03 slower than the time Caster Semenya ran at the 2012 London Olympics to win gold.
South Africa's Prudence Sekgodiso puts in a sublime performance to win the 1500m and record a world-leading time at the #MarrakechDL 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦 pic.twitter.com/xVH7cW2ip5
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) May 19, 2024
“Achieving a world lead and a personal best is just amazing,” said Sekgodiso.
“But I cannot say that this performance will change something for me in terms of goals and expectations.
“For the Paris Olympics, I will try to reach the final. I want to be in the big eight.”
Sekgodiso’s next race will be in Nancy on Saturday before running in the Diamond League event on June 2.
The emotion of Sekgodiso’s win in Morocco was tangible it seemed.
“I’m so excited! I’m over the moon – I cannot wait to speak to my coach (Samuel Sepeng) and hear what he has to say,” the TUKS Sport athlete told the Diamond League YouTube channel.
“I don’t know... I feel like crying! But I can’t because my coach is not here and I don’t know who I’m going to cry to. But I just want to get to my phone and reply to all the messages.”