KZN athletes favourites for gold in Pietermaritzburg

KwaZulu-Natal athletes may well be within reach of three gold medals or at least podium finishes when the four-day ASA Senior, Combined Events and Relays Championships which begins on Thursday at Msunduzi Athletics Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.

Middle-distance runners will spearhead the KZN Athletics team as favourites to put up a fight to don golden medals.

While she won't be competing in her preferred 800m race, Prudence Sekgodiso lines up in both the women's 1 500m and 5 000m. And in the absence of Sekgodiso, in-form athlete Gena Lofstrand - fresh from a win at the last leg of the Athletics Grand Prix Series in Johannesburg - will hope to clinch the two-lap national title which has eluded her since she won it as a teenager in 2013.

Over longer distances, national 5km road running champion Tayla Kavanagh will be targeting a medal in the women's 5 000m final as she aims to join Sekgodiso in a double podium charge for the host province over 12-and-a-half laps. And although he might be better known for his efforts over the 800m and 1 500m distances, Tshepo Tshite will also fancy his chances in the men's 5 000m event.

In addition, former SA champion Zakithi Nene and national Under-23 champion Amy Naude will be gunning for medals in the men's and women's 400m sprints. Local fans will no doubt be treated to a yummy festival feast of athletics which end on Sunday.

The main programme on Thursday's opening day of competition will begin at 8.30am.

WHERE TO WATCH ON SUPERSPORT:

18 April – Variety 4 - 12:40 - 17:00

19 April – Variety 4 - 14:25 - 17:45

20 April – Variety 4 - 14:15 - 17:15

21 April – Variety 4 - Morning Session: - 09:15 - 11:45, Afternoon Session: 12:45 - 16:10.