05 Aug 2018

Botswana athletes took Asaba, Nigeria by storm on Friday when they clinched three medals in a space of an hour at the 21st Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) African Senior Championships.

Both the defending champions, Balokoki Thebe and Nijel Amos won gold medals in 400m and 800m respectively, while Christine Botlogetswe won a silver medal in the 400m women category.

Thebe and Amos’s win was sweet victory considering that they have been struggling with injuries this season and odds were stuck against them as to whether they will be able to defend the titles they won two years ago in Durban, South Africa.

Thebe, however crossed the finish line with 44.81 to claim a gold medal, followed by South African Thapelo Phora with 45.14, while Nigerian Chidi Okezie won a bronze with 45.65.

He said in an interview after the race that he was happy that he was able to defend the title.

“Before the final, I happened to listen to Bob Marley and the Wailers’ Redemption song.

As I took to the track, the lyrics emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds pushed me very hard.

As the lyrics were playing in my head I told myself I am going to win this race, no matter what,” he said.

Thebe said he would work hard to qualify for the Diamond League finals and prepare for the IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018, which he qualified for by virtue of being the African Champion.

As for Amos, some athletics pundits had already given Kenyan Emmanuel Korir the title considering that he had always given Amos a tough time in the track.

However, on Friday, it was a totally different ball game altogther.

Even though Kenyans Korir, Rotich Ferguson and Jonathan Kitilit had tried to make it difficult for Amos to win race by ensuring that Kitilit lead the race, he (Amos) kept close to Kitilit on the curve; a strategy, which made things difficult for Korir and Ferguson. In the end, Amos clocked 1:45.20, followed by Korir with 1:45.65 and Moroccan Mostafa Smaili came third with a time of 1:45.90 spoiling Kenyan party.

Amos said he was happy that he defended his African title against all odds, adding that he was focused throughout the competitions.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy one. I knew I had what it takes to defend the title looking at my past results.

So I got on the line and enjoyed the race all the way to finish,” he said.

Amos had won the title for the third consecutive time.

He won the race  in Marrakech, Morocco in 2014 and in Durban in 2016.

In the 400m women’s race, Otlogetswe proved to be maturing with every race as she was confident and gave one of the strongest athletes in the world, Caster Semenya no respect.

However, it was Semenya who reached the finish line first with 49.96 and Botlogetswe won silver with 51.19 followed by Nigeria Ajayi Yinka with 51.34.

Track and field analyst, Billy Tambula said Botlogetswe planned her race well given that when the gun went off, she immediately closed the stagger on Semenya and even took the lead.

“She knew she needed to be in a better position on the home straight should the other athletes attack towards the finish line.

She looked very strong towards the last bend.

She did most of her work on the 300m,” he said. ENDS