08 Jul 2014

Isaac Makwala is Africa’s fastest 400 metres runner and the continent’s third fastest in 200 metres.

Makwala and his practice mate Pako Seribe, made Botswana proud Sunday (July 6) when they beat several other runners from around the world in an international event held at the at the La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Makwala participated in 400 metres and 200 metres in under two hours and won both races.

AthleticsAfrica.Com editor Yomi Omogbeja who covered the event told BOPA in an interview that Makwala obliterated his lifetime best in 400m with 44:01 seconds, which takes him to 11th on the world’s all-time fastest runner’s list.

By registering the time, he also smashed Africa’s best time set by DRC’s Gary Kikaya at 44:10 seconds in 2006 in Germany. Makwala beat homeboy Pako Seribe, Zambian Savior Kombe, and Frenchman Pecceu David among others. Seribe came second with 45:21 seconds. Makwala repeated the feat in In the 200 metres when he registered 19:96 seconds.

According to Omogbeja, Makwala sped into a slight -0.4m/s headwind, setting another Botswana record of 19:96 in the men’s 200metres. “That performance places him in third position on the African all-time list,” he said. That is in the 200 metres.

“All in all it was a good performance for Makwala against a decent field being able to run 44:01 and 19:96 is world class standard, doing it in the same meet, on the same day is super impressive, more especially in the 200m where he relegated Nigerian-born Femi Ogunode of Qatar to second place by a wide margin of 19:96 to 20:32.”

About Seribe’s performance, he said the athlete finished second in 45:21secs, just 0.17secs shy of his lifetime best, set earlier this year.

Despite the good performance, Omogbeja said the athletes needed more exposure to be able to compete in more competitions and top premium meets like the Diamond League, to gauge their competitiveness.

He said most African athletes ran well in small meets in Europe and on the continent but became intimidated and failed to perform on the big stage due to many factors such as lack of exposure, anxiety, pressure and many others. He further said there was need for more government funding of athletics in Africa.

However he said Botswana was fast becoming a huge talent hub for 400m runners and the success of Amantle Montsho has spurred on the rest.

The man of the moment Makwala, said he was not surprised by his performance because he was very ready to deliver, adding he started preparing for the season last year.

He said he was happy that since the beginning of different competitions he managed to break national records and the meeting records. “I must thank my coach, Justice Dipeba who always tells me to go in the track and give my best,” he said. Coach Dipeba was “speechless”.

“I am very proud of Makwala for breaking the African record. Last season I told him we would go all out; we would not have the Christmas break. We took the time and thoroughly prepared. He was committed and the result are what you are seeing now.” He said.

Dipeba has been training Makwala since 2010 after the athletes’ return from where he previously trained.

Makwala is left with two competitions before the Commonwealth. On Saturday (July 12) he will compete at the Diamond League in Glasgow, Scotland, where he will run in the 400 metres.

Then, on July 18, he will compete in the same competition in Monaco, France, where he will run in both the 200 and 400 metres events. ENDS