Joy For Amos, Agony For Makwala
Staff Writer | Monday August 21, 2017 15:58
After a disappointing end to the World Championships in London last week, the athletes moved just next door to Birmingham, this time for the Diamond League.
Amos managed to erase the bitter memories of finishing fifth in the finals of the World Championships when he stopped the clock after 1.44.50 ahead of his conqueror last week, Polish Adam Kszczot who clocked 1.45.28.
Amos is in a strong position to win the Diamond League to atone for what has been a disappointing season for the former 2012 London Olympics silver medallist.
Makwala, who was the unexpected man-of-the-moment at the World Championships, did not kick-on as he could only manage a fourth place finish in the starless 200m.
He opted to run the 200m instead of his favourite 400m, which he missed at the World Championships, due to a ‘medical condition’.
But in a favourable lane three, Makwala failed to replicate the form that held the world of athletics spellbound, when he crossed the line after 20.41, behind winner, Ramil Guliyev who clocked 20.17. Ameer Webb of the USA took silver with a time of 20.26 while Aaron Brown of Canada managed a season’s best of 20.30 that earned him the bronze. Makwala still has time to avenge his 400m World Championships disappointment as he has qualified for the finals of the Diamond League.
While many would have expected Makwala to square off against world champion, Wayde van Niekerk, the South African has withdrawn from the Diamond League finals on August 24 due to an injury, which has robbed athletics of the only remaining showdown after Usain Bolt’s retirement and David Rudisha’s season ending injury.