Diamond league gold for relay team
Mqondisi Dube | Monday May 9, 2016 14:58
It was perfect preparation for the relay team which has already qualified for the Rio Olympics in August.
The relay team finished in a time of 3:02:29 ahead of Japan and Qatar in second and third respectively. Rising 400m runner, Baboloki Thebe got proceedings underway before handing to 800m specialist, Nijel Amos. Zacharia Kamberuka was third and Leaname Maotoanong anchored impressively to power the local boys to a season opening victory.
Makwala came up against a strong line-up which included powerhouses, Lashawn Merritt of the United States.
He will not be entirely disappointed with his time of 45:71 as it is his first race of the season. Merritt finished with a time of 44:41, while Machel Cedenio of Trinidad and Tobago was second and Qatar’s Abdalleleh Haroun third. “It shows we are 100 percent ready for the (Olympics) Games. It has helped us prepare. That was not our best relay and it shows that as we progress, we will get the best time this year.
As for Makwala, he is in good shape, he will improve in the next race,” Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) vice president, Glody Dube said.
He added that everything was going well regarding the preparations for the Olympics with the Botswana National Olympic Committee assisting with training camps.
400m Results
1. Lashawn Merrit (USA) 44:41
2. Machel Cedenio (TTO) 44:68
3. Abdalleleh Haroun (QAT) 44:81
4. David Verburg (USA) 45:54
5. Tony MacQuay (USA) 45:65
6. Isaac Makwala (BOT) 45:71
7. Steven Gardiner (BAH) 46:39
8. LugueliÃÅn Santos (DOM) 46.53
4x400m Relay
1. Botswana (B. Thebe, N. Amos, Z. Kamberuka, L. Maotanong) 3:02:29
2. Japan 3:02.45
3. Qatar 3:03.91
4. France 3:03.93
5. Saudi Arabia 3:07.44
6. Poland 3:08.74
7. South Africa (Did Not Finish)