The three-day SA Senior Athletics Championships starts at Puk McArthur Stadium in Potchefstroom on Thursday.
We take a look at six events that could produce thrilling battles in the chase for national titles.
Men
100m
Though national record holder Akani Simbine won’t line up in defence of his title, as he is focusing on the Diamond League meeting in China this weekend, a cracking final is expected.
Junior sprinter Bayanda Walaza has already run under 10 seconds this year and he will turn out as the favourite for the gold medal.
He will have to be at his best, however, against a long list of challengers including 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk, in-form athletes Abduraghmaan Karriem, Tsebo Matsoso and Retshidisitswe Mlenga, as well as local favourites Benji Richardson and Bradley Nkoana.
400m
Wayde van Niekerk is concentrating on shorter sprints this week and Lythe Pillay is at the Diamond League in China, but a tight contest is still on the cards in the one-lap event.
Former national champion Zakithi Nene has already run under 45 seconds this year, and he will be difficult to beat.
But he will have to hold off challenges from world junior champion Udeme Okon, who has displayed good form this season, as well as 17-year-old prospect Leendert Koekemoer.
Long jump
In a wide open event, if the country’s top long jumpers hit their straps, we might see some big distances being reached.
Cheswill Johnson and Nikithemba Hani have already gone over eight metres this season, and they will both be in the hunt for the national title.
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jovan van Vuuren hasn’t shown his best form yet this year, but he too will be confident of putting up a fight.
Women
100m
Over the last few years, Viwe Jingi has been virtually unbeatable on the domestic circuit, and she will again line-up as the favourite in defence of her title on her home track.
She was given a real shake, however, when she was edged by 17-year-old Hannah Hope Vermaak at the recent Golden Grand Prix in Botswana, where both athletes clocked 11.44 seconds.
Vermaak will need to be able to handle the pressure of racing against Jingqi at a national senior championship, but she has proved she will have a chance of causing an upset.
800m
In middle-distance events, Prudence Sekgodiso will be the headline act after reaching the Olympic 800m final last year and winning the world indoor title earlier this season.
Sekgodiso will compete over the 800m and 1 500m distances this week, and while she is unlikely to have much competition in defence of her 1 500m title, she will need to keep an eye out for Charne Swart in the 800m final.
Though she will have to fight hard to keep pace with Sekgodiso, defending champion Swart (who won the national two-lap title in the absence of her more fancied compatriot last year) will be eager to take a big scalp after setting a personal best of 1:59.45 in Pretoria last month.
400m hurdles
After Zeney Geldenhuys and Rogail Joseph had the crowd on their feet in last year’s final, when both athletes qualified for the Olympic Games, they will again be among the favourites for medals.
This week, however, they are going to have to ensure they are at their best to avoid an upset from some of SA’s rising stars.
Hannah van Niekerk, who earned bronze at the World Athletics U20 Championships last season, and 17-year-old Tumi Ramokgopa could be snapping at the heels of their senior compatriots.
* Featured image of Bayanda Walaza by Cecilia van Bers
