SEKGODISO TO PACE RUNNERS AT CAPE MILERS

Having already secured her spot in the 800m event at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris, South African 1 500m champion Prudence Sekgodiso will assume a new role at today’s Cape Milers held at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), starting at4pm.

The Olympic qualifying standard for women’s 800m is 1:59,30 — a time Sekgodiso surpassed at the Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) meeting at the University of Pretoria in March, where she recorded a personal best of 1:58,05.

This performance not only marked her eighth dip in under two minutes, but also secured her ticket to Paris before the deadline in June.

Two spots remain available for the South African women’s 800m team ahead of the Olympic Games.

Sekgodiso chose not to compete in her preferred 800m event at the recent Athletics South Africa (ASA) Senior Track and Field Championships in Pietermaritzburg, instead participating in the 5 000m race where she secured a silver medal.

She successfully retained her title in the 1500 min 4:16,38.

Excited about her new role as a pacemaker, Sekgodiso is looking forward to helping her fellow athletes achieve their Olympic qualifying times.

The event schedule features two 800m finals, with the first commencing at 5.15 pm, followed closely by the second at 5.20 pm.

Sekgodiso shared with SABC Sport: “I am thrilled about competing in the Rabat Diamond League in Morocco on May 19.

“I will pace my team-mates in the 800m two-lap race at the Cape Millers tonight. My goal is to assist them in achieving fast times.

“I don’ t know how far I will push them, but we will see. Currently, my focus locally is on the 800m, but in Europe, I will be striving to excel in the 1500 mas well ,” she added. — SABC.