By GPC Sports Correspondent
Three South African athletes will launch their campaigns on Friday when the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship gets under way in Budapest, Hungary.
Sprinter Zakithi Nene, 100m hurdler Marione Fourie and 800m runner Prudence Sekgodiso will compete on the opening day of the three-day championship.
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Nene will contest the men’s 400m semi-finals, while Fourie lines up in the women’s 100m hurdles. Sekgodiso will compete in the women’s 800m semi-finals.
Fourie could return to the track later on Friday for the hurdles final if she advances, while Nene and Sekgodiso will have their finals on Saturday should they progress from the semi-finals.
South Africa’s two other sprinters, Gift Leotlela and Akani Simbine, will enter the competition on Saturday in the men’s 100m. They will compete in the semi-finals before the final later in the evening if they qualify.
The final South African athlete in action will be Sinesipho Dambile, who competes in the men’s 200m on Sunday. Dambile heads into the championship after finishing second in the 200m at last week’s Diamond League final.
Athletes must progress through the semi-finals to earn a place in the finals of their respective events.
South African schedule (SA time)
Friday
7:19pm – Men’s 400m semi-finals: Zakithi Nene
8:57pm – Women’s 800m semi-finals: Prudence Sekgodiso
9:04pm – Women’s 100m hurdles semi-finals: Marione Fourie
9:20pm – Women’s 100m hurdles final: Fourie, if qualified
Saturday
6:18pm – Men’s 400m final: Nene, if qualified
7:21pm – Men’s 100m semi-finals: Gift Leotlela, Akani Simbine
8:18pm – Women’s 800m final: Sekgodiso, if qualified
8:49pm – Men’s 100m final: Leotlela/Simbine, if qualified
Sunday
6:18pm – Men’s 200m semi-finals: Sinesipho Dambile
8:38pm – Men’s 200m final: Dambile, if qualified
