Testing Olympic heats for Amos, Masilo
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday August 12, 2016 14:18
Amos, who won the country’s first ever Olympic medal at the London Games four years ago, will battle it out with Algeria’s Taoufile Makhloufi (Algeria) in the fifth heat.
Makhloufi won gold at the London games in 2012 in the 1,500m race but has since shifted to the 800m where he has been performing well.
He scooped silver at last year’s African Games in a time of 1:50:72 behind Amos.
The Algerian won African Championships at Benin in 2013 with a personal best of 1:43:88. He recorded the 10th fastest time in 2016.
Making his Olympic debut, Masilo lines up against Ferguson Cheriyuot Rotich in the second heat. Masilo qualified in a time of 1:45: 87 he recorded at Kortjirk, Belgium. The 21-year-old is ranked 49th in the world 800m rankings and is regarded as a future prospect.
His closest rival Rotich finished second at the 2013 World Championships in 1:45:25, which is his personal best.
He also came fourth in last year’s World Championship held in Beijing, China in 1:46:35.
The Kenyan athlete is regarded as one of the best in the category.
He has been in the shadow of world record holder David Rudisha for a while and will be looking to make his mark at the Rio games.
Team Botswana arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday after a week long camp in Blemenau. Speaking to Mmegi Sport from Brazil, Botswana’s team manager, Glody Dube said the team has settled well in Rio, under favourable weather conditions and they are rearing to go.
“All I can say is that our team arrived well. We do not have any injury concerns and the weather is ok. We are just waiting for tomorrow (today) so that we can go and compete,” he said.
Meanwhile 400m sprinters, Lydia Jele and Christine Botlogetswe will also make their debuts tomorrow when they compete in the heats. Medal hopeful, Baboloki Thebe and Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) sports person of the year, Karabo Sibanda and former African Champion Isaac Makwala will also be in action this weekend.