With four legs of the top-flight series remaining, two South African athletes have already qualified for the 2026 Diamond League final to be held in Brussels in September.
In the men’s 200m sprint, Sinesipho Dambile is in top spot in the standings with 28 points, cementing his spot in the series final in the half-lap sprint.
Dambile’s season thus far has included four podium places in Diamond League races, including a victory in Doha where he set a personal best of 19.74 seconds.
And 400m specialist Zakithi Nene is lying second in the men’s one-lap event with 30 points, which is sufficient to guarantee him a place in the final.
Nene’s Diamond League campaign has included five top-five finishes, including a victory in Stockholm.
The only athlete ahead of Nene in the 400m standings is world champion Collen Kebinatshipi of Botswana, who has 32 points.
Meanwhile, seven other SA athletes have earned points in their events over the first 10 legs of the series, joining the hunt for coveted places in the Diamond League final.
The 11th of 14 legs in the regular Diamond League season will be held in London on Saturday, 18 July.
SA athletes in Diamond League standings
Men
100m
5th – Gift Leotlela (15 points)
6th – Akani Simbine (15)
19th – Bradley Nkoana (1)
200m
1st – Sinesipho Dambile (28)
15th – Mthi Mthimkulu (4)
400m
2nd – Zakithi Nene (30)
Women
800m
2nd – Prudence Sekgodiso (19)
100m hurdles
15th – Marione Fourie (5)
Javelin throw
14th – Jo-Ane du Plessis (2)
* Featured image of Sinesipho Dambile by Cecilia van Bers
