Montsho, Semenya in 300m showdown
Mqondisi Dube | Wednesday March 29, 2017 14:41
Montsho proved her worth after she secured qualification to the London World Championships in August with a 52.01 run in Francistown nearly a fortnight ago.
The former 400m world champion has been out for two years, serving suspension for a banned substance.
She returned to competitive action last month where she finished third in her first race in the Botswana Athletics Association track and field competition in Lobatse.
Montsho then showed her class, with a first place finish in Francistown, meaning she only needed two races to book her ticket to London.
Today, she will not run her customary 400m, shifting to the 300m in what coach, Mogomotsi Otsetswe said was a move meant to improve her speed.
“We want to sharpen her speed. She is going to Mauritius next month where we target a 50sec run. She is on course and she is in good condition. She is where we want her to be,” Otsetswe told Mmegi Sport yesterday.
Otsetswe expects Montsho to gradually improve her time, hitting around 49secs in May as the World Championships draw closer.
Baboloki Thebe, who has the world’s 400m leading time in 2017, after running 44.89 in Francistown a fortnight ago, will also compete in Sasolburg, in the Free State province.
Otsetswe expects further improvement from the rising youngster, who is the best world junior runner. “I expect a seasonal best from Thebe. We expect him to improve to sub 43 in June as we approach the (London) championships.”
The coach expects Karabo Sibanda, another of Botswana’s blossoming talent, to hit sub 45 in South Africa. Oarabile Babolayi, Boitumelo Masilo and Onkabetse Nkobolo are some of the athletes who made the trip down south.