Middle-distance runner Prudence Sekgodiso delivered another impressive result, taking second place in the women’s 800m race at the Diamond League meeting in Eugene on Saturday night.
Sekgodiso pushed eventual winner Tsige Duguma of Ethiopia all the way to the line, equalling her personal best of 1:57.16 to take the runner-up spot.
Duguma narrowly held on to secure victory in 1:57.10, and African athletes swept the podium as Halimah Nakaayi of Uganda held on to finish third in 1:57.89.
It was Sekgodiso’s third podium finish thus far in the 2025 Diamond League series, having taken second place in Rabat and third in Stockholm.
Walaza sixth on debut
Bayanda Walaza, the only other SA athlete competing in Eugene, took sixth position in the men’s 100m race on his Diamond League debut.
The 19-year-old sprinter clocked 10.04 seconds in a fast race which saw four men dipping under 10 seconds.
Up front, Kishane Thompson of Jamaica grabbed the win in 9.85.
World records broken
Meanwhile, two world records fell in women’s middle-distance events.
In the 1 500m event, Faith Kipyegon of Kenya broke her own world record, completing the race in 3:48.68 and dragging 10 other women under four minutes.
In the 5 000m contest, her compatriot Beatrice Chebet stopped the clock at 13:58.06, becoming the first woman to dip under 14 minutes over the 12-and-a-half lap distance.
The next leg of the top-flight Diamond League series will be held in Monaco on Friday, 11 July.
* Featured image of Prudence Sekgodiso by Cecilia van Bers
