Rivalries between female athletes competing in the same event are rare in South African athletics—but that could change in three weeks at the 2025 ASA Senior Track & Field Championships + Relays and Multi Events in Potchefstroom.

For the first time in recent memory, two athletes who have run sub-two-minute times will line up in the women’s 800m final at the national championships. Prudence Sekgodiso, coached by Samuel Sepeng at Tuks, currently holds the fastest women's 800m time in the world this year with 1:58.40. She’ll be challenged by the fellow Tuks athlete Charne Swart, who ran a personal best of 1:59.45 earlier this season.

The women’s hammer throw is shaping up to be another thrilling contest. Last month, at the second Grand Prix meeting in Johannesburg, Leandri Holtzhausen broke the South African record with a throw of 67.95 meters. However, she may face stiff competition from Tuks medical student Colette Uys, who launched a personal best of 65.84 meters in February. If both athletes reach those distances again, it would mark the first time two South African women have thrown over 65 meters in the same competition.

Then there’s the 400 meters—arguably the event to watch. Four athletes with the potential to dip under 52 seconds are set to compete. Zeney Geldenhuys (51.26), Marlie Viljoen (51.42), and Shirley Nekhubui (51.42) all clocked impressive times last month, while Miranda Coetzee ran a personal best of 50.66 last year. Together, the quartet broke the national 4x400m relay record in March, posting a time of 3:28.30—the fastest in nine years.

Viljoen, a Tuks alumna, has long been tipped for a major breakthrough. Her 51.42-second run in March not only marked a personal best but also placed her among the top 75 fastest women globally over the past five years. She believes there’s more to come—and 2025 might just be her year.

"It's still early in the season. We haven't even started to peak yet. There are a few reasons why I was able to run such a fast time so early. I trained with Charne Swart on her 800m program in the off-season. It helps a lot with endurance and gives me mental strength. The 400 now feels easy to run 400 meters. In 2022, when I did the same, in 2023, I ran a time of 51.81 seconds," said the 2023 FISU World University Games 400m women's champion.

"Last year was challenging. I was hampered by various injuries. I also made the mistake of focusing too much on statistics, putting myself under unnecessary pressure. After every race, I was unhappy with how I was running. It felt like I wasn't giving it my all. Identifying at least ten mistakes I made during a race was easy. 

"Luckily, it has changed. I'm no longer afraid to race hard until the end. Working full-time definitely helps. I'm in a routine. The work and athletics complement each other. I am more focused at work when I have trained on the track. On the days I don't train, I feel this guilt. It makes me feel like I haven't accomplished what I should have. The best is that I no longer put so much pressure on myself. I run to enjoy it. With every race, it's a case of, "Let's see what I'm capable of."