Middle-distance runner Tshepo Tshite finished ninth in a closely contested men’s 1 500m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday.
Tshite, the SA record holder, completed the race in 3:35.90, with Isaac Nader of Portugal claiming the gold medal in 3:34.10.
Earlier, on day five of competition in the Japanese capital, Zeney van der Walt settled for seventh place in her 400m hurdles semifinal in 55.06 seconds, and she did not progress to the final of her specialist event.
In other disciplines, there were solid performances by Wayde van Niekerk and Sinesipho Dambile in the men’s 200m heats.
Van Niekerk, a former World Championships silver medallist over the 200m distance, was second in his first-round race in 20.19, while national champion Dambile ended third in his heat in 20.27.
Both athletes booked their places in the half-lap semifinals to be held on Thursday.
Junior sprinter Naeem Jack would have gained valuable experience from his participation at the global championships, though he finished fifth in his 200m heat in 20.65 and was eliminated.
In the qualifying round of the men’s javelin throw, Douw Smit landed his spear at 81.23 metres, taking 18th place overall. He fell 1.57m short of a place in the final.
Schedule of SA athletes, day six (Thursday)
12.58pm – 800m women, heats (Prudence Sekgodiso, Charne du Plessis)
2.02pm – 200m men, semifinals (Sinesipho Dambile, Wayde van Niekerk)
3.10pm – 400m men, final (Zakithi Nene)
* Featured image of Tshepo Tshite by Nic Bothma/Athletics South Africa
