Prudence Sekgodiso sets world lead as she wins Diamond League 800m race
South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso emerged victorious in a Wanda Diamond League meeting, winning the 800m at the Meeting International Mohammed VI d’Athlétisme in Marrakesh in a world-leading 1:57.26 on Sunday.
The 22-year-old Limpopo-born athlete is the second-fastest South African woman of all time over the 800m race behind two-time Olympic champion Caster Semenya.
She posted a personal best of one minute, 57.26 seconds (1:57.26).
She achieved her first international race of the season and had been undefeated so far this year on home turf.
“I didn’t expect to run so fast. Winning was in my mind but not with such a fast time. It’s crazy fast,” Sekgodiso said.
“I am so proud of myself tonight. Achieving a world lead and a personal best is just amazing. But I cannot say that this performance will change something for me in terms of goals and expectations. For the Paris Olympics, I will try to reach the final. I want to be in the big eight.”