03 Jul 2017

2012 Olympic Silver medallist, Nijel Amos redeemed his pride in the Paris Diamond League when he finished in position one with a convincing time of 1:44.24.

The last time he ran the fastest was in Monaco Diamond league, where he finished in position two after Bosnia and Herzegovina athlete Amel Tuka with 1:42.66.

Now during the Paris meeting, it was evident that the Marobela born was not in any compromising mood, as he controlled the race from the start to finish as this time around he did not risk to attack from the back, but rather went all out.

It was also apparent that Amos changed his racing tactics as he chased and put the pace-maker, Kenyan Nicholas Kiplangat Kipkoech under a lot of pressure in the event crossing the 400 metre mark with a time of 49.64.

However, in the remaining 200 metres, on-form Kenyan Kipyegon Bett came with guns blazing over taking Amos and little did he know that the Botswana athlete was saving the best for last.

In the last 120 metre mark, Amos proved that he had been working on his speed and endurance as he passed through Bett like a jumbo jet, and it was Amos who hit the finish line first, with his Season Best (SB) 1:44.24 followed by Bett with 1:44.36 on position three was Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich of Kenya with 1:44.37, followed by his country man Robert Biwott with 1:45.05.

In 400 metres women event, Lydia Jele finished on position four with 51.96, position one went to Jamaican Novlene Williams-Mills with a time of 51.03, USA’s Courtney Okolo settled for position two with 51.19, followed by Shericka Jackson of Jamaica with 51.91.

Amos told BOPA after the race that he was happy with his performance in Paris given that he managed to clock his fastest time ever since 2015.

Quizzed about his new running strategy, he said they were going to take each race as it came and his coach told him to go out there and follow his instincts.

“And I decided to be in control. Run my own race, and I will always follow my instincts on each race, and give my best, but at the same time after injuries one has to be careful,“ he said.

A sport journalist Bapati Mmotlanyane said Amos performed a class act, enough to rubber-stamp his authority and reputation of being the fastest on the field considering his Personal Best progressively.

He said Amos was maturing with diversity in terms of race plans, as during the race he looked sharp and it was safe now to say the athlete wa now getting back to his best and it was only a matter of time before he rukes the track.

He said for the athlete to clock a SB spoke volumes of his intentions after scrappy season plagued by injuries, adding that he was now confident that the new training base in United States of America was now bearing fruit.

Talking about Amos strategy of chasing the pace maker during the race, Mmotlanyane said the new strategy was a huge lift to test himself of endurance.

“I think he is now targeting his PB. Its all about confidence and sharpness,” he said

Talking about Jele, he said the athlete was gaining much ground, adding it was now clear that she had hit a dip in-form compared to earlier in the season.

He however said Jele needed to work on the technique which could suit her best to be able to shift into gear.

“For now its good she is gaining experience. Consistency in her season is very vital. For her to be among the contenders she possibly has to hit the sub-51 mark and for an athlete of her potentia, with the right strategy this is achievable,” he said. ENDS