SA Senior Athletics Championships – Final Day Recap (26 April 2025)

Karen Scheepers
Apr 27
6 min read

Updated: May 5

The final day of the 2025 SA Senior Athletics Championships at Puk McArthur Stadium delivered a fitting climax to an unforgettable three days of competition. With Olympic and World Championship dreams on the line, South Africa’s best athletes rose to the occasion across sprints, distance events, field events, and relays. Saturday’s action featured record-breaking performances, emotional comebacks, and fierce battles for gold as the country's athletics stars showed their class. Here’s a complete breakdown of all the Day 3 finals, major upsets, and standout moments from an incredible closing day in Potchefstroom.

Image: 2025 ASA Senior Track & Field Championships

Highlights from Day 3 of the Championships

The last day of competition was both thrilling and emotional. The performances captured the essence of athletics, highlighting resilience, talent, and determination. This day brought us some unforgettable matches. Here’s an overview of significant events that stood out.

Women’s 20km Race Walk Final

In the women’s 20km walk held in the morning, Jessica Groenewald (Athletics Central North West) clinched the gold. She finished around the 1 hour 50 minute mark, similar to her winning time of 1:53:22 from last year citizen.co.za. Groenewald’s victory marks her third consecutive national title in this event, underlining her dominance in South African women’s race walking. Zelda Schultz (Athletics Gauteng North) took the silver medal, and Marissa Swanepoel (AGN) earned bronze. Although no records were broken, Groenewald’s consistent performance cements her status as the country’s top female race walker.

Men’s 20km Race Walk Final

The men’s 20km walk saw Sizwe Ndebele (AGN) defend his title in approximately 1:30:00. Ndebele, who won last year in 1:31:42 athletics.africa, again struck gold with a solid performance around the 1:30-1:32 mark. Veteran Olympian Wayne Snyman did not compete, allowing Ndebele to push the pace alone. Tebatso Masinbyi (AGN) secured silver and Khathutshelo “Kelvin” Ntshiuwa (CGA) took bronze, both finishing several minutes behind the winner. While the times were well off Lebogang Shange’s national record (1:19:18), Ndebele’s back-to-back titles showcase his consistency.

Women’s Long Jump Final

Danielle Nolte (Gauteng North) delivered a commanding win in the women’s long jump final. She leaped 6.31 m to earn the gold athleticssa.org.za, the only athlete to break the 6-meter mark. Nolte’s winning jump was nearly half a meter farther than her nearest competitors. Matsidiso Makgato (Mpumalanga) took silver with 5.85 m, and Oluchi Ndubueze (Central Gauteng) claimed bronze at 5.81 m.

Nolte's performance, though shy of the national record (~6.96 m), was a personal best and a standout series of jumps, as she had multiple jumps over 6.2 m. No records fell, but Nolte’s victory at age twenty indicates a rising star.

Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Final

The men’s 3,000m steeplechase final turned into a tactical affair. Ashley Smith (Western Province) prevailed in 8:52.23 to take gold instagram.com, kicking away over the final water jump. Aphelele Nkonyeni (KZN) claimed silver in 8:56.23, and local favorite Tumisang Monnatlala (Central North West) grabbed bronze in 9:14.89.

Smith, a former World U20 finalist, utilized his finishing speed skillfully to outduel Nkonyeni on the last lap. The winning time was relatively modest, well outside the 8:14 national record. The early pace of the race was slow, which opened the door for Smith's victory.

Women’s Javelin Throw Final

With defending champion Jo-Ané du Plessis (Van Dyk) absent, the women’s javelin final saw a new champion. Johanni van Lieshout (Free State) won gold with a best throw of 55.68 m. She led from the first round and sealed victory with that throw in Round 5.

Julé du Toit (AGN) took silver (approximately 53 m), and Tazmin Brits (North West), returning to athletics from cricket, snared bronze with 52 m. While no one approached Van Dyk’s 60.38 m throw from the Diamond League a day earlier, van Lieshout's triumph was a breakthrough at the national level.

Highlights from 800m Finals

Women’s 800m: In one of the performances of the meet, Prudence Sekgodiso stormed to gold in 1:58.80 thetoprunner.co.za. The reigning World Indoor champion went out fast and controlled the race. She became the only woman to dip under 2 minutes. Charné Swart fought hard to finish second in 1:58.98, a personal best.

This thrilling head-to-head between Sekgodiso and Swart electrified the stadium as Sekgodiso pulled ahead in the homestretch. There were no disqualifications in heats, making it a two-woman race.

Men’s 800m: The men’s two-lap final did not disappoint. Tshepo Tshite defended his title in approximately 1:46.0, using a strong kick in the final 100m. The pre-race favorite, Tshite held off a late charge from Mihlali Xhotyeni, who claimed silver in about 1:46.3. Thabiso Kotlhe took bronze (~1:47.0).

The race went out in a tactical 54-second first lap before Tshite unleashed a 52-second final circuit. Tshite’s win completed the first half of his ambitious schedule aiming for an 800m/1500m double attempt.

Men’s Hammer Throw Final

Defending champion Tshepang Makhethe (Free State) delivered a dominating series to win men’s hammer gold. Makhethe’s best throw of 73.26 m came in round 4, securing the title by a wide margin. Allan Cumming (Central NW) earned silver with 68.11 m, and 19-year-old Henk Pretorius (AGN) took bronze at 66.00 m.

This marked Makhethe’s third national title, and he celebrated by acknowledging the crowd. A moment of significance came when his hammer landed beyond 72 m, the only throw over 70 m in the competition.

Men’s 200m Final

The men’s half-lap final was filled with drama and speed. Olympic relay medalist Bayanda Walaza false-started and was disqualified before the gun, stunning the crowd. After the restart, Sinesipho Dambile powered to gold in 20.11 seconds.

In a photo-finish for the podium, teenagers Naeem Jack (silver, 20.13) and Abduraghman Karriem (bronze, 20.15) both dipped under the World Championship qualifying standard thetoprunner.co.za.

Women’s 200m Final

The women’s sprint title went to Tamzin Thomas (Western Province). Thomas, who had been runner-up in the 100m, ran a sharp curve and clocked 23.11 seconds (-0.2 m/s wind) for gold. She held off Banele Shabangu (CGA), the 2022 champion, who finished second in 23.33s. The bronze was claimed by Joviale Mbisha (ACNW) in 23.50s.

Thomas’s victory was redemption after a narrow 100m loss, building a two-meter lead coming off the bend.

Men’s Triple Jump Final

In the men’s triple jump final, Yehan Coetzee (AGN) produced a late winning jump to grab gold. Coetzee bounded 16.54 m (+1.0 m/s) in the fifth round, moving from third to first. Thando Dlodlo (CGA) surprised with silver at 16.47 m, achieved in the second round. The bronze went to Gabriel Louw (ACNW) with 16.10 m.

Late in the competition, Mpho Tladi (AFS) fouled his last two jumps, slipping to fourth. Coetzee’s title marked a personal best distance, making him the only jumper over 16.5 m.

Men’s 110m Hurdles Final

Veteran hurdler Antonio Alkana (Western Province) extended his national reign by winning his ninth SA 110m hurdles title. Alkana clocked 13.67 seconds (+0.3 m/s) for gold, cleanly clearing every hurdle. He held off Munyaradzi Zvomuya (AGN), who took silver in 13.85.

Women’s High Jump Final

The women’s high jump final ended in a jump-off to decide gold. Julia du Plessis (AGN) and Nicolette van Vuuren (AFS) both cleared 1.82 m. Du Plessis clinched the gold medal by clearing 1.80 m on her first attempt, while van Vuuren needed two tries.

Women’s 100m Hurdles Final

South Africa’s “hurdles queen” Marioné Fourie (AGN) won the 100m hurdles in 13.02 seconds (+0.5 m/s), marking her second consecutive national title. Jean-Marie Senekal (ACNW) took silver in 13.44, and Claudia Heunis (WPA) snagged bronze in 13.58.

Women’s Shot Put Final

The women’s shot put gold went to Colette Uys (AGN) in a tight contest. Uys threw 16.99 m in the final round, leaping into first place. Ischke Senekal (Free State) had to settle for silver with a throw of 16.85 m, and the bronze went to rising talent Miné de Klerk (ACNW) with 16.20 m.

Men’s 400m Finals

The standout performance of the championships happened in the men’s 400m. Zakithi Nene (KZN) unleashed a stunning run to win gold in 44.22 seconds. This time makes him the 2nd-fastest South African in history over this distance.

Women's 400m Finals

Miranda Coetzee (AGN) clinched the women’s 400m final in 51.82 seconds. Coetzee, the African champion, took control of the race by the 300m mark, ultimately securing her victory.

1500m Finals

Women’s 1500m: Prudence Sekgodiso completed a middle-distance double by winning the final just a couple of hours after her 800m triumph, clocking 4:11.34 for gold.

Men’s 1500m: Ryan Mphahlele (CGA) won gold in 3:43.60. His performance included a sprint past the leaders on the final straight.

5000m

The men’s 5000m final delivered the upset of the championships. Maxime Chaumeton (Central Gauteng) claimed gold in 13:44.53, defeating multiple national record-holder Adriaan Wildschutt.

4×100m Relay Finals

Men’s 4×100m Relay: Gauteng North's quartet, featuring 100m champ Gift Leotlela on anchor, achieved a winning time of 39.47 seconds.

Women’s 4×100m Relay: Central Gauteng women’s team took gold in 44.62 seconds.

4×400m Relay Finals

Men’s 4×400m Relay: Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) won in 3:05.78.

Women’s 4×400m Relay: AGN's women’s 4×400 team won gold in 3:33.70, the fastest at nationals in over a decade.

Standout Records and Moments

Junior Record: Leendert Koekemoer shattered a 31-year-old South African junior record in the men’s 400m semifinals.

World Championship Qualifiers: Performances from Prudence Sekgodiso, Sinesipho Dambile, and others achieved qualifying standards for the 2025 World Championships.

Comebacks and Upsets: The meet showcased compelling comebacks such as Julia du Plessis and notable upsets, especially with Chaumeton's win over Wildschutt.

Provincial Team Triumph: Gauteng North topped the medal table, aided by strong relay showings and Prudence Sekgodiso’s double triumph.

The 2025 ASA Senior Championships' final day in Potchefstroom will be remembered for its record-breaking feats, world-class times, and inspiring storylines. From Nene’s explosive 400m victory to Sekgodiso’s double gold, South African athletics fans witnessed a thrilling finale loaded with standout performances, comebacks, and major upsets.