Good Hope Glory In AYG Athletics
Thato Kala | Monday June 2, 2014 17:22
Thebe ran 20.85 seconds in the event.
Although he would have wanted to beat Jamaican Usain Bolt’s 2003 record of 20.13 seconds in the same event at junior level, he was content with his achievement and vowed to build from his Gaborone 2014 success.
“I am happy to have set a new personal best and I am grateful to my coaches who kept pushing me. I know I would not have achieved this without their input,” Thebe told Monitor Sport.
The Good Hope Secondary School student was thrilled his schoolmate, Karabo Sibanda also did well in the 400m event, winning gold.
“I am also happy that my schoolmate also managed to get gold in 400m. I think he has a bright future in athletics,” he said.
Sibanda had a chat with reigning 400m African champion, Isaac Makwala after the semi-finals. A few days before the just-ended Youth Games, Makwala predicted the youngster would capture gold.
“I know Karabo. I have seen him running many times so I knew he would manage. His performance was fantastic. After the semis, I talked to him not to panic in the final the way he did in the semis,” Makwala said on Saturday.
Sibanda, who left chess for athletics last year, said the gold medal is a culmination of the work his coaches have done.
“It feels exciting and fantastic to have won gold. When I was on the track, what came into my mind was that I had to finish this race and make a new personal best,” he said.
Gorata Gabanketse did the nation proud when he got silver in the 800m event behind Kenya’s Kiptoo Anthony. Gabanketse clocked 1.52:52 minutes while the Kenyan romped home in 1.52:07 minutes.
In the girls’ 800m, Thandi Uerimuna missed a medal when she finished fourth after running 2.12:11 minutes. Refilwe Dintweng was a distant seventh in the 100m final with of 12:68 seconds.