Representing Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA), Dhlamini stormed to victory in 48.57 seconds, just missing the 48.50 qualifying standard for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, this September.

Junior star Njabulo Mbatha claimed silver in 49.28, with his Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) teammate Martiens du Preez taking bronze in 49.55.

“I’ve been chasing this title for the past four years,” Dhlamini said. “The first two times, I was hitting hurdles and didn’t even make it to the finish line properly, so I’m really happy with this result.”

In the women’s 400m hurdles final, Zeney Geldenhuys (AGN) secured her fifth national title, clocking 55.09 seconds. Up-and-coming junior Tumi Ramokgopa (AGN) finished second in 55.90, while last year’s World Athletics U20 bronze medallist, Hannah van Niekerk (AGN), claimed third in 56.67.

Sabelo Dhlamini on winning the men's 400m hurdles gold at the 2025 ASA Senior Track and Field Championships in Potchefstroom #Athletics pic.twitter.com/ZJFrqgJl7Z

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“I’m very happy with the win,” said Geldenhuys. “The time’s not bad either, which shows the sub-55 and even sub-54 marks are getting closer with every race. That’s really exciting.”

In the men’s long jump, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jovan van Vuuren (AGN) returned to top form, winning a closely contested final with a leap of 8.00m. Defending champion Cheswill Johnson (CGA) was second with 7.97m, while Divaan Manuel of Boland Athletics (BOLA) took bronze with a 7.93m jump.

“Missing last year’s nationals due to an abdominal injury was tough,” Van Vuuren said. “So to come back and reclaim the title feels really special.”

Zeney Geldenhuys reacts to winning the women’s 400m hurdles at the 2025 ASA Senior Track and Field Championships in Potchefstroom #Athletics pic.twitter.com/UQfANFnISa

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In just her second heptathlon competition, Karmen Fouché delivered an outstanding all-round performance to win the women’s event, which spans seven disciplines across two days. Representing host province Athletics Central North West (ACNW), she scored 5,969 points – moving up to third on the all-time SA heptathlon rankings.

Only Janice Josephs (6,181 points in 2006) and Fouché’s mother, Maralize Visser-Fouché (5,988 points in 2000), have scored higher in the event.

In the men’s high jump, Breyton Poole (BOLA) cleared 2.20m to win gold. Tshepang Dankuru (AGN) managed the same height but had to settle for silver on countback.

Central Gauteng’s Leandri Holtzhausen claimed victory in the women’s hammer throw with a best effort of 66.97m, falling just short of her own national record. AGN’s Colette Uys secured silver with a 65.53m throw – her second medal of the champs after winning gold in the discus the day before.

South Africa's new men's long-jump champion Jovan van Vuuren on winnings gold at the 2025 ASA Senior Track and Field Championships in Potchefstroom #Athletics pic.twitter.com/RYF3SsqXzF

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Veteran thrower Victor Hogan (BOLA), a former World Championships finalist, took gold in the men’s discus with a 61.11m effort, while Ansume de Beer (BOLA) won the women’s pole vault, clearing 4.10m.

In other field events, Zinzi Xulu (CGA) won the women’s triple jump with a leap of 13.44m, and Carina Siegers (AGN) claimed gold in the women’s 3 000m steeplechase with a time of 10:53.34.

One of the most impressive performances of the day, came from 17-year-old Leendert Koekemoer, who ran 45.03 seconds in the men’s 400m semi-finals. That effort broke the 31-year-old SA U20 record of 45.15 set by Riaan Dempers in 1994.

With one day of action still to come, Athletics Gauteng North remained at the top of the medal table with 24 medals (eight gold, eight silver, eight bronze). Athletics Central North West were second with 11 medals (four gold, three silver, four bronze), followed by Central Gauteng Athletics in third with eight medals (four gold, three silver, one bronze).

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg