24 Aug 2015

The pride of Botswana in the 800 meter race, Nijel ‘Zoro’ Amos has crashed out of the IAAF World Championships.

Nijel finished number 3 clocking 1:47: 96. He was pitted with his track antagonist David Rudisha of Kenya who finished first followed by Musaeb Abdulrah Balla of Qatar .

It was clear during the start of the race that the Marobela born was up to something, as he approached the race with his normal style of remaining at the back and take his opponents head on in the remaining 100 metres, but that was not to be because both Rudisha and Balla had already done the work.

Now Nijel will watch the finals on the stand, and it is now back to the drawing board. Last year Amos won almost every competition, including the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Diamond League, and the Africa including the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Diamond League, and the Africa Championships as well as winning the IAAF Continental Games in Morocco.

Currently the World Championship medal is the only laurel is missing in Zoro’s cabinet.

In the heat that took place on Saturday August 22, Nijel looked so relaxed without pressure and managed to finish on position one clocking 1:47:23.

Now the Batswana hope is on Isaac “Badman” Makwala who qualified for the 400 metres semi-finals which have been scheduled for Monday, August 24 at 1405hrs.

Makwala finished third in a time of 44:19,on first position was Saudi Arabian's Yousef Ahmed Masrahi with 43.93,followed by Jamaican sprinter McDonald Rusheen with 43.93.

But judging Makwala by his take -off from the blocks, maybe and just maybe he will improve his performance in the semi-finals and ultimately qualify for the finals.

Makwala told BOPA after the race that their heat was very fast and he did not anticipate that, adding that it was like they were running in a final race.

He said he was ready for the challenge in the semi-finals and his target is to finish on top two to qualify for the finals.

Another 400 metres runner, Onakbetse ‘Tolly’ Nkobolo failed to qualify for the semi-finals after finishing on position four in the event recording his Personal Best of 45:17. ENDS