Bayanda Walaza and Prudence Sekgodiso among the leading athletes set to take to the track at the ASA Senior Championships.

The Athletics South Africa Senior Championships are set to get underway on Thursday at the North-West University McArthur Stadium in Potchefstroom, promising a weekend of thrilling competition and fast-paced action.

Running from Thursday through to Saturday, the national championships will see the very best of South Africa’s athletics talent on display as they compete across a range of track and field events in pursuit of national glory.

Beyond medals and titles, the event also serves as an opportunity for athletes who are yet to do so to secure qualification for the upcoming World Athletics Championships, set to take place in Tokyo, Japan, later this year.

The championships will be without several big names, including Akani Simbine, Maroane Fourie, Lythe Pillay, and Jo-Ane du Plessis, as they are set to compete at the Diamond League meeting in Xiamen, China, on Saturday.

World junior champion Bayanda Walaza will be one of the headline acts in the men’s 100m sprint event. The 19-year-old continues to shine as one of South Africa’s brightest young talents, having lived up to every expectation placed on him so far.

After helping secure a silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Walaza went on to claim both the 100m and 200m titles at the U20 World Championships held in Lima, Peru, last year.

He’ll be in elite company this weekend, with 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk set to compete in both the men’s 100m and 200m events. The sprint lineup will also feature Olympic finalists Benjamin Richardson and Bradley Nkoana, making it one of the most anticipated showdowns of the championships.

The middle-distance races are also set to be among the highlights of the championships, with World Indoor 800m champion Prudence Sekgodiso expected to light up the track. She is expected to be competing in both the 800m and 1500m events, and following her impressive early-season form, all eyes will be on her to maintain her dominance and deliver yet another commanding performance.

Olympic semi-finalist Zeney Geldenhuys is set to renew her thrilling rivalry with 2024 African Championships gold medalist Rogail Joseph in the women’s 400m hurdles. Adding further intrigue to the lineup are rising stars Hannah van Niekerk, who claimed bronze at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru last year, and 17-year-old sensation Tumi Ramokgopa.

In the field events, Olympics finalist Kyle Blignaut and Brian Raats will be favorites to triumph in their respective events. Blignaut, who’s fresh off landing a throw of 20.32m in the men’s shot put event at the Golden Grand Prix of Botswana, will be expected to carry on his good form, while 2022 World U20 Championships silver medalist Raats will be out to secure the top step on the podium in the men’s high jump.