Strong field awaits Tebogo, Kebinatshipi in Eugene

Calistus Kolantsho | Friday July 3, 2026 09:54

Tebogo is expected to deliver something special following his triumph at the Oslo Diamond League, where he clocked 19.84 seconds.

The 200m race will also include Zimbabwean sprinter Makanakaishe Charamba, Zharnel Hughes (Britain), Bryan Levell (Jamaica), Adrian Kerr (Jamaica), Lindsey (USA), Tate Taylor (USA), Brandon Hicklin (USA) and Sam Blaskowski. On the other hand, Kebinatshipi is expected to continue where he left off in Paris, in a race that he set a Diamond League record and Personal Best (PB) of 43.54 seconds.

He will be up against an American line-up consisting of Chris Bailey, Rai Benjamin, Khaleb McRae, Nathaniel Ezekial, Vernon Norwood, Jacory Patterson and Chris Robinson.

Jwaneng Athletics Club coach, Argo Lefatshe, told MmegiSport that Kebinatshipi is in good shape and is expected to drop another 43 seconds.

However, he said that does not mean Americans should be undermined. “His performance will depend on a number of factors such as weather conditions and the condition of the track. “Some of these athletes have been struggling, but they have not been competing; we do not know how they have been preparing,” said the coach.

Kebinatshipi’s coach, Chilume ‘Chippa’ Ntshwarang, has arrived in Eugene and his presence will serve as a motivation to his athlete.

Lefatshe said upon return from the USA, Ntshwarang would travel to Europe to visit his other athletes, Prince Selepe and Lee Bhekimpilo Eppie, who are competing in World Athletics Continental Tours. Bayapo Ndori will not line up in the 400m as initially planned due to an injury. Tebogo’s coach Kebonyemodisa ‘Dose’ Mosimanyane told Mmegi Sport that the target is the World Athletics Ultimate Championship to be held in Budapest, Hungary in September. “Tebogo has not reached the level that I want him to be, but he is doing fine. There is no advice that I can give him right now; we both know the plan, so we will stick to it. As for Ndori, he is recovering from a knock that he picked up during the Rabat Diamond League. He is responding well,” he said. Mosimanyane added that the knock led to Ndori withdrawing from competitions to allow full recovery, meaning he will not be lining up tomorrow. A total of 98 Paris 2024 medallists will be in action at the Prefontaine Classic, in an extraordinarily deep line-up which promises both world-beating times and a new chapter in some of the sport’s most absorbing rivalries.