Paris Olympic finalist Prudence Sekgodiso took charge this time around on the final lap to clinch victory in Karlsruhe. Photo: AFP
Just a week after setting a new South African record in her first indoor race, Prudence Sekgodiso proved that she means business in 2025 by breaking her own 800m national mark on Friday night.
Competing in a World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting in Karlsruhe, Germany, the 23-year-old Paris Olympic finalist improved her record of 2:02.30 that she set in Belgrade last week.
Having finished fourth in Belgrade, Sekgodiso took charge this time around on the final lap.
Ethiopia’s Habitam Alemu was in the lead at the bell, but with about 150 metres to go, SA star Sekgodiso made her move.
She roamed past Alemu in a cool, relaxed manner, and then stretched her lead on the final straight to motor to her first sub-two-minute time on the indoor circuit, setting a new SA record of 1:59.88.
Sekgodiso quickly looked up at the clock after crossing the line, and quickly realised that she had surpassed her previous best on the 200m-long indoor track, which makes it four laps in the 800m, and her time was also a qualifying mark for the World Indoor Championships – although she was just 0.01 short of the world lead for 2025.
Her outdoor personal best is 1:57.26.
“The overall race was good. I tried to stay with the pace, and managed to come through in the end,” Sekgodiso said.
“I enjoyed it very much, and looking at the starting list, I had hoped to win.”
Alemu faded to third spot in 2:01.34, with Germany’s Majtie Kolberg finishing second in 2:00.84.
Sekgodiso took to Instagram to post a few celebratory photos of her race, and stated that she will be next in action on February 13 in Lievin, northern France.
The only other SA athlete who competed in Karlsruhe was 400m star Zakithi Nene, who won the B race in a time of 46.58 seconds.
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