Makwala, Thebe face van Niekerk in Monaco showdown
Mqondisi Dube | Friday July 21, 2017 15:06
He, together with the sprightly Baboloki Thebe will take part in the Diamond League race at 8:25pm local time. Makwala was in ominous form in Madrid last Thursday as he smashed a long standing 200m record and did sub 20 for only the second time in his career. This was moments after he had done a sub 44 in the 400m the same night after stopping the clock at 43.92, coming agonisingly close to Michael Johnson’s record of 43.90 which was set 23years ago.
In the 200m he was more ruthless, crashing former great, Carl Lewis’ meeting record on his way to setting a personal best and world record lead of 19.77.
While Makwala was in belligerent form, the field was not as intimidating as tonight’s line-up in Monaco.
World record holder, Wayne van Niekerk will be on the track to provide a litmus test for Makwala as he prepares for the World Championships.
The intimidating line-up also contains Botswana’s sparkling star, Thebe who has taken to the Diamond League like duck to water. Thebe has already won one race and twice finished second where veteran Lashawn Merritt has triumphed.
But tonight’s race, is probably the toughest as the athletes head to London to compete in the World Championships starting on August 5.
Makwala has already declared he is going for gold in London, on the back of his outstanding run in Madrid. “I want to qualify for the finals in Zurich on August 24. If I finish in the top three, I will be able to make the final. With the World Championships, I am going to do all my best, any athlete who goes there is targeting a medal, it’s the same here,” Makwala told Mmegi Sport last night.
Makwala has to adopt a cautious approach, as he has previously seen promising positions turn into palpable disappointment, where he fizzles at the biggest stage. However, the Tutume-born athlete has gathered sufficient mileage over the years, which should give him the necessary experience and confidence to go on to conquer the world before he exits the track.