SA WRAP: Nene takes fifth place in 400m, Dambile into 200m final

In-form sprinter Zakithi Nene equalled the best performance thus far by the South African team, taking fifth place in the men's 400m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Thursday.

Schedule | Results | TV Guide | Get DStv

Though he did not step on the podium, Nene matched the result of fellow sprinter Gift Leotlela who finished fifth in the men's 100m final earlier this week.

Competing in wet conditions, Nene circled the track in 44.55 seconds in a race won by neighbouring Botswana's Collen Kebinatshipi in 43.53, the fastest time in the world this year.

Earlier on Thursday, on the sixth day of competition, national champion Sinesipho Dambile progressed to the men's 200m final.

He was third in his semifinal in a personal best of 9.97 seconds, becoming the eighth South African athlete to break the 20-second barrier.

He is set to return to the track for the medal battle on Friday.

Also competing in the half-lap event, former World Championships 200m silver medallist Wayde van Niekerk ended fourth in his semifinal in 20.12 and he was eliminated.

In the women's 800m heats, world indoor champion Prudence Sekgodiso and Charne Swart both pulled out on the first lap of their respective races.

"We are now very desperate for a medal in any colour. Dambile gives us hope, so does Jo-Ane du Plessis in the javelin. All the best to our athletes still in competition and hopefully the weather and everything else will favour them in their competitions. May they achieve personal best performances," said James Moloi, the President of Athletics South Africa.

SA ATHLETES:

12.30pm – javelin throw women, qualification (Jo-Ane du Plessis)

3.06pm – 200m men, final (Sinesipho Dambile).