Wayde van Niekerk impresses in taking gold at South African Athletics Championships 2023
World record holder reclaims the title he last held in 2016 at the three-day South African senior track and field championships
Athletics
Olympic champion Wayde van Niekerk won a fifth South African track and field athetics title in the men's 400m on Saturday, 1 April.
Having won his semi-final in the morning, the world record holder returned to the track a few hours later and held off the challenge of World U20 champion Lythe Pillay in the final.
Rio 2016 gold medallist van Niekerk clocked an impressive time of 44.17 seconds to claim the title. Pilay was second in 44.80. Garedo Isaacs took the bronze in 45.47 at the McArthur Stadium in Potchefstroom.
It's van Niekerk's fifth national championship crown at the distance but his first since 2016. He has also won three national titles at 200m.