Tebogo, Scotch chase Diamond League glory
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday September 15, 2023 10:33
The final goes beyond mere championships, with attractive packages on offer with winners taking home $30,000 (about P400,000). Each event category has been allocated $70,000, and the remaining prize money will be distributed amongst the other seven finalists.
In addition to the prize money, each champion will be presented with a prestigious Diamond Trophy and granted a wildcard entry to the World Athletics Championships. Botswana will be represented by Tebogo, who will compete in the 100m and 200m events, and Leungo Scotch, who will participate in the men's 400m. Another athlete, Bayapo Ndori, will not be able to compete due to an injury.
Since May, the world's top athletes have been competing for points, with athletes earning eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, or one point(s) for finishing first through eighth, respectively. Tebogo has accumulated 18 points from three 100m Diamond League events, securing his place in the final. He has also earned 15 points from two 200m events.
Despite missing out, Ndori had accumulated 16 points from four Diamond League meets, while Scotch has secured 12 points from three meets. The finals come against the backdrop of Budapest '23 where for the first time, Botswana scooped two medals courtesy of Tebogo. The competition also comes a year ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Coach Kebonyemodisa Mosimanyane told Mmegi Sport that for Tebogo, the priority has been rest and therapy rather than training.
"As for Scotch, it has been rest and recovery, so not much training has been going on, just staying active to maintain some of the sharpness from Budapest," he said. Mosimanyane emphasised that the championship events are physically taxing and athletes should not go back into hard training immediately after the high-intensity competition. Instead, the priority is to sustain their performance without causing harm to the athletes.
Regarding a minor injury that Tebogo sustained in Budapest, Mosimanyane assured that the athlete has fully recovered and is in excellent condition. He emphasised that the plan for the Diamond League final is for Tebogo to savour the entire experience without dwelling on the outcomes of Budapest 23 or vengeance.
Mosimanyane advised that the athlete should simply enjoy the last competition and then return home for the much-needed rest. He expressed regret that Ndori did not qualify for the final, as it would have been a point of pride for Botswana to have three representatives in the finals.
Men’s 100m: Tebogo (Botswana), Ferdinand Omanyala (Kenya), Noah Lyles (USA), Christian Coleman (USA), Marvin Bracy (USA), Kishane Thompson (USA), Ackeem Blake (Jamaica) and Joshua Hartman (Germany).
Date: Saturday. Time: 10:07pm.
Men’s 200m: Tebogo (Botswana), Erriyon Knighton (USA), Kenny Bednarek (USA), Kyree King (USA), Joseph Fahnbulleh (Liberia), Aaron Brown (Canada), Andre de Grasse (Canada) and Alex Ogando (Dominican Republic).
Date: Sunday. Time: 11:36pm.
Men’s 400m entry list: Scotch (Botswana), Vernon Norwood (USA), Quincy Hall (USA), Bryce Deadmon (USA), Matthew Hudson-Smith (Great Britain), Kirani James (Grenada), Rusheen McDonald (Jamaica) and Giles Biron (France).
Date: Saturday: Time: 9:16pm.