South Africa’s elite track athletes continued their international campaigns on Friday night at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, highlighted by standout efforts from 200m sprinter Sinesipho Dambile and 800m specialist Prudence Sekgodiso. Both athletes continue to solidify their positions near the top of the overall season standings while managing competitive schedules and major career milestones.
Dambile Secures Second Place in All-African 200m Podium
Sinesipho Dambile produced another solid performance in the men’s 200m, marking his first Diamond League appearance since capturing gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Running into a -0.3 m/s headwind, Dambile clocked 19.98 seconds to finish second, dipping under the 20-second mark for the fourth time this season.
The race concluded with an all-African top three. Botswana’s Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo claimed victory in 19.87 seconds, with Dambile finishing just 0.11 seconds behind, while Zimbabwe’s Makanakaishe Charamba rounded out the podium in 20.14 seconds.
“It’s my first time here in Lausanne and I really can’t complain,” Dambile said following the race. “I had a lot of fun, especially considering I haven’t trained a lot since the Commonwealth Games, so I’m very happy to see myself progressing like this. It’s important for me to inspire the youth back home and show them what’s possible, so I’ll keep on doing that. And now I’m really looking forward to and excited for the Diamond League final.”
The result further strengthens Dambile’s position in the series. He currently leads the overall 2026 Diamond League 200m standings with 35 points across five meetings, sitting five points clear of Tebogo (30 points) as the circuit approaches the final in Brussels next month.
Sekgodiso Adds Series Points Amid Busy Competitive and Awards Schedule
Prudence Sekgodiso, the only other South African athlete competing in Lausanne, lined up in a fast-paced women’s 800m field. Sekgodiso took eighth place in 1:59.58. The race was won by Switzerland’s Audrey Werro, who set a meeting record of 1:55.33 in front of her home crowd, ahead of the Netherlands’ Femke Broeders-Bol (1:55.41).
Despite a tough contest on the night, Sekgodiso’s consistency across the circuit keeps her well-placed in the championship hunt. Having competed in six Diamond League events this year, she currently ranks fourth overall in the women’s 800m standings with 20 points, remaining in strong contention behind Werro (32), Keely Hodgkinson (22), and Broeders-Bol (21).
Sekgodiso’s steady campaign on the track coincides with significant recognition off it. She was recently named to the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list, and her performances over the past year have earned her a nomination for South African Sportswoman of the Year at the 19th annual SA Sports Awards, scheduled to take place tomorrow at Sun City.
Action Moves to Silesia
The Diamond League series continues this Sunday with the 13th leg in Silesia, Poland. Three South African athletes will be in action, with 400m runner Zakithi Nene joined by 100m sprinters Gift Leotlela and Akani Simbine.
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