08 Aug 2017

Two Batswana 400 metre women runners, Amantle Montsho and Lydia Jele could not make it to the IAAF World Championships after finishing outside the qualifying bracket on August 7.

Jele who was in heat two finished on position five with 51.57, while Montsho who was in heat three finished on position four with a Seasons Best (SB) time of 51.28.

According to athletics analyst, Billy Tambula, Jele had a good race against very tough line up, adding that semi-finals were always going to be very fast and the time she managed to record of 51.57 was a fast time.

He said it was not easy to run such a time looking at the fact  that she recorded her fast times at altitude.

“She really improved from what we saw in Rio. She worked very hard in all the rounds. She is going in the right direction,” he said.

Tambula said Montsho  was not yet at her best but the times and the way she was able to run the semis showed that if she had at least two races before the championships,she would have done much better.

He said Montsho was able to maintain her speed throughout the race which showed that she was aware of the shape she was in.

“All her times in this championships were better than 51 and a half which shows that she is still in with a chance of running 50 or even a Sub 50,” he said.

Sport journalist Bapati Mmotlanyane, said the athletes did their utmost but it was not their day to make it through.

“You can never doubt their efforts. It was always going to be a mountain to climb for them to make it to that top eight,” he said

He said at one point Jele looked “pretty much in control” just right at the top bend but unfortunately she still lacked the experience to maintain speed throughout.

She said Montsho would pride herself with SB, adding that making it to the semis after that long lay-off, alone was an achievement.

“Personally I think she has proved that she has the potential to run a season or two in the Diamond League,” he said. ENDS