Montsho Storms Into World Championships
Naledi Lemogang | Monday March 13, 2017 16:12
The cut off time for the women’s 400m is 52.10 and has to be achieved before midnight on July 23.
Her achievement is particularly sweet as she has just returned from a two-year suspension for taking a banned substance at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Montsho needed just two competitive races to book her place at the world’s most prestigious athletics only event.
A winner in the same competition in Daegu, South Korea six years ago, Montsho will bid to repeat the feat in London this year at the ripe age of 34. She turns 34 in July just days before the London meet.
Her qualification was greeted with joy with London 2012 Olympics silver medallist, Nijel Amos posting a hearty message on his Facebook page.“Guess who punched her ticket to London World Championships? The champ is back, so proud of you my sister,” Amos said. Montsho thanked fans for support after the Francistown race.
“Beautiful weekend in Francistown and thanks a lot for your warm welcome Francistownians (sic). Thanks for coming to watch the race,” Montsho said on her Facebook page. Former Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) public relations officer, Ipokeng Ramatshaba who has worked with Montsho, said he was excited about the athlete’s feat.“Considering that she qualified in only her second race since suspension, is a big achievement,” Ramatshaba told Sport Monitor yesterday. He said Montsho has proved that she has got a big heart and did not let the suspension “kill her career.”
“It was a mistake and she is now back. If you are suspended, abide and come back. You just have to keep working hard,” Ramatshaba said.
Montsho’s qualification brings to five Botswana athletes who have qualified for the competition, joining Baboloki Thebe, Karabo Sibanda, Lydia Jele and Amos. Sibanda proved that he will be the man to beat when he ran 44.90 in Francistown, while Jele achieved qualification in South Africa last week.