Udeme Okon delivered a stunning surprise on Saturday, winning the national 200m title in his age group on the third and final day of the ASA U16, U18, U20 and U23 Track and Field Championships at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town.

Okon, who secured the world junior 400m title last year, won the U23 men's half-lap final in the Mother City, beating national senior 200m champion Benjamin Richardson. Representing Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA), Okon completed the race in 20.48 seconds, with Richardson settling for the silver medal in 20.67.

"I don't think I was the favourite to win because I was running against guys who specialise in the 200m, but I just had to show people I can be versatile," Okon, a one-lap specialist, said afterwards.

At the age of 19, Okon is set to embark on his first European tour after the upcoming ASA Senior Track & Field Championships in Potchefstroom, and he is eager to launch his professional career as a senior athlete.

"I'm competing on the European circuit where I hope to run quicker in the 400m and maybe I'll do some 200m races as well. It's very exciting."

In the U23 women's 200m sprint, 20-year-old Viwe Jingqi triumphed in 23.35, earning her second gold medal of the week after she won the 100m sprint in her age group two days earlier. She finished well ahead of Precious Molepo, who took the runner-up spot in 23.81.
Running into a headwind in relatively cool conditions, Jingqi was pleased with her performance.

"I felt the wind in the home straight but I kept telling myself to keep form, and in the last 20 metres I could feel I was starting to fall a little bit forward but I thought to myself 'just finish'. But honestly, I can't complain about conditions because that was a good time," Jingqi said.

* All ASA records are subject to standard ratification processes

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About Athletics South Africa:
Athletics South Africa (ASA) is the national governing body for the sport of athletics (including Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking) in South Africa, is a member of World Athletics  and  the Confederation of African Athletics.  The association was formed in 1995 and is based in Johannesburg.

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