03 Jul 2018

Gyulai Istvàn Memorial in Hungary was a revival for Botswana’s duo of Nijel Amos and Baboloki Thebe, as both sailed to position two in their respective races.

After being sidelined by an injury, the 800-metre runner like a volcano, erupted at the Monday event (July 2), finishing in position two with a Season Best time of 1.44.18, after Kenyan Ferguson Rotich who clocked 1.44:08.

He executed his race plan well, though it was clear that his finishing technique was still suspect, but one would expect that, given that he has been out of action.

Amos said in an interview that he was happy with his performance because last year he did 1.44:2, although he was fatigued due to travelling.

Thebe, who also has not been doing well this season, finally tightened his spike pins as he also finished in position two, stopping the clock in 45.13, after Dominican sprinter, Luguelín Santos.

During both races, it was evident that the duo were now picking up the pieces, as their race approaches clearly demonstrated that they were now in a position to stamp their authority in the athletics world.

Although Thebe’s first 200 metres was slow, he managed to steal the race from his competitors and picked up in the last 100 metres sprinting to the finishing line with the energy of one who has just started the race.

He said he was happy that his body responded well, adding that he had to do his best to honour one of the 400 metre-legends, Gyulai Istvàn.

“My intention is to run sub 45 very soon and I have a lot of races lined up, I am confident that very soon I will be back in shape,” he said.

Track and field analyst, Billy Tambula said Amos’ competitors ‘had a lot of mileage on their legs’ and their fitness was better than his.

He said he was convinced that he was back in good shape, and his race fitness would be better as he competes more often.

Amos, he said, was with top 800m runners who had been taking part in Diamond League and World Challenge, but he gave them a tough time.

“He improved his time and we know it’s been with Nijel not going below 1’43 and now that he is at 1’44 he is almost there.  The past two years we have always had a world of 1’43. He will be on that bracket soon,” Tambula said.

Talking about Thebe, the analyst said he started on a steady pace for about 250m, even though Santos was going very hard opening the stagger.

He said Thebe remained cool-headed and decided to attack the bend and accelerate on the home stretch when he most needed to.

“It is worth noting that this is the third race he was with Santos, who was among the fastest in all this races. Despite knowing that Santos is very fast this time he decided not to go with him but to execute his race plan. 45.13 is a good time for him and it shows that he is still in the range to run a sub 44,” he said.

Sport administrator, Patrick Moesi said he knew Thebe was always going to come back with a bang.

“After this performance, he can only get better. Even at his age, he is already a seasoned campaigner, who always comes back from setbacks with a bang. His season’s best is a testimony to his resilience,” Moesi said

He said Amos was one of the best athletes in the 800m in the world, and what happened to him in Gold Coast was just a phase in an athlete’s career. Injuries are a part and parcel of sport.

An athlete of his pedigree, he said, always rises amidst any adversity, adding that Amos had failed many tests in his athletics career, but he was always able to rise.

Moesi said Gyulai Istvàn Memorial race showed that he was still going to rule the 800m, and the nation can only now expect this star to rise and turn around his season.

“He is training in a very good place, which is synonymous with athletics. I expect a complete turnaround in his season building up to the African Championships in Asaba, Nigeria,” he said. ENDS