10 Jul 2016

After a long struggle, Botswana’s 800 metres runner, Boitumelo “Summer” Masilo has finally qualified for Rio de Janeiro, 2016 Olympic Games, at the Flanders Cup meeting held at Kortriik, Belgium, on Saturday.

A staunch believer, it has always been so far, yet so close for him, given that he has been trying hard yet failing to hit the 800 metres qualification mark of 1:46.00.

Masilo nearly brook down at the 20^th CAA African Senior Championship, after finishing on position four missing qualification after clocking 1:46:16.

However, at the Flanders Cup meeting, Summer came with guns blazing as he did not leave anything to chance as it was now or never for him.

Forget about him losing his running gear in Dubai and ending up using Nijel’s Amos attire and spikes. Maybe this came with good luck since Amos never finds it difficult to qualify for any major competition.

Both the technical team and teammates were behind him for they knew he was so close to qualifying by strategising for the race by bringing in 400 metre runner, Leaname Maotoanong as a pacesetter.

Maotoanong followed the instructions like a standard one boy by starting the race at a very high pace, and Masilo chased him like a thief who has just snatched his expensive cell phone.

Masilo followed the instructions by his coach that he should chase Maotoanong and crossed the 400 metres mark with 50.00 sec and it was clear that he was destined for Rio Rio de Janeiro, when he hit the finish line first with a qualifying time of 1:45.87.

He said in an interview that he was happy that he managed to qualify after a long struggle, adding that although he missed the standard by an inch in numerous races, he never gave up.

“I want to thank Maotoanong for the job he did for me, he really sparked the race on the day, and I was given strict instruction to run my own race, but I should guard Maotoanong and Nijel who has been supportive to me.

 My luggage was left somewhere in Dubai and he told me to relax as he will give me his gear and he gave me strict instructions saying, “Summer I am giving you my gear and make sure you qualify,’ said the delighted runner.

“I will always be indebted to Amos and Maotoanong,” he said.

Masilo will now board the same flight to Rio with Amos, Isaac Makwala, Baboloki Thebe, Karabo Sibanda, Onkabetse Nkobolo, Lydia Jele, Christine Botlogetswe, 4x400 men’s relay team,and Naomi Ruele of swimming.

Coach Otsetswe said he was impressed by Masilo’s performance on the day, adding they did a good race plan together with Maotoanong as the pacesetter and they both followed the instructions well.

Talking about the qualification, Botswana National Olympic Committee, chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho said they were happy for Masilo as they always believed that he would qualify and he has proven them right.

“This is unprecedented as things stand, effectively for every event we have qualified for in athletics there is more than one person, in the past we had struggled to have more than one person per event, we are looking forward to a good showing by him and his teammates in Rio,” he said.

In the 400 metre race, Amos finished on position one with 45:93, while Maotoanong finished fourth with 46:37. In 200 metres Leungo Matlhaku finished fourth in 23.88, while Karabo Mothibi finished first in 100 metres recording 10.17 and in 200 metres he came second in 20.73. ENDS