Bright Start For Botswana At World Championships
Staff Writer | Monday August 7, 2017 16:15
Isaac Makwala, Baboloki Thebe and Nijel Amos eased into the next round after good runs in their heats, but there was no joy for Karabo Sibanda in the 400m, as the youngster makes a slow return from injury.
Last night, Makwala, Thebe and Amos were expected to progress to the finals after being involved in the semi finals.
Lydia Jele, Amantle Montsho and Christine Botlogetswe started their 400m campaigns yesterday afternoon.
On Saturday, Makwala continued with his belligerent form as he recorded the heats’ fastest time, 44.56, and in the process, left long time rival and two-time world champion, LaShawn Merritt in his wake.
Makwala has been in mean mood, and hopes are high that he will land his first World Championships medal, in an exciting 400m line up, expected to include world champion, Wayde van Niekerk, Merritt, Botswana’s Thebe and 21-year-old 6ft 5in Bahamian Steven Gardiner, who looked impressive in the heats.
Sibanda could only manage a disappointing seventh in Heat 6, crossing the line in 47.44, his worst performance at an international event.He had appeared a safe bet for a medal at the World Championships until he suffered a late injury just two months before the London competition.
In the 800m, Amos won the fifth heat with a time of 1.47.10 and is one of the contenders for gold after Kenyan David Rudisha’s late withdrawal. Today, Makwala will run in the 200m heats at 7:30pm while the semi finals of the women’s 400m are at 9:55pm.
Tomorrow, the finals of the men’s 800m are at 10:35pm while the 400m men’s finals are at 10:50pm.