16 Aug 2018

After being sidelined by a hamstring tendon tear in May, Isaac Makwala in August 18 expected to make a come back at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham in a Diamond League meeting.

Makwala will share the track with his compatriot, Baboloki Thebe, who was recently crowned the Africa Champion in Asaba, Nigeria.

The competition is important to the duo as Makwala will be testing his fitness after the hamstring injury while Thebe is expected to cement his top eight position in order to qualify for the finals to be staged in Zurich on August 30.

Thebe is aware that the race is a make or break for him. He said in an interview that his mission was to make it to the final.

He noted that he was currently in the top eight bracket, adding that for him to be on the safe side he must finish in the top three during the race

“I am not under any pressure and I am going to enjoy my race. The rest will follow, but what I can tell you is that I am in a good shape,” he said.

Thebe missed the finals last season after sustaining an injury at the World Championship in the 4x400 metres heat.

For his part, Makwala said his injury took long to heal, as he had been away from the track for about two months.

He said he had been on a rehabilitation process, and that he had only been training for two weeks.

“So for this race I am going to take it easy and collect points to remain in the top eight.Three or four points are enough for me to be in the final. I have a big fish to catch in Zurich,” he said.

Track and field analyst, Billy Tambula said Thebe’s last two races in Europe were good and that he continued with his scintillating performance at the Africa championships.

“I believe he is now in a better shape to finish in a good position which will take him to the finals. I am confident that he will qualify on Saturday,” Tambula said.

He said he only needed to finish 5th or better. “Or one could say finish ahead of Santos and Taylor who are also challenging for qualification.”

About Makwala, Tambula said the 400 metres runner did himself a favour by accumulating as many points as possible in the early stages of the circuit. He added that  it gave him a cushion even when he was not competing.

Coming from an injury, he said it was not easy to tell how Makwala would perform, adding that he might decide to be cautious just to get a feel of how his body would respond.

“I also think he needed to compete before going to the finals, and looking at the line-up, I don’t see him failing to seal his position in the standings,” he said.

The 400 metres entry list is made up of Jonathan Borlée of Belgium, Paul Dedewo, Fred Kerley and Christian Taylor of the USA, Great Britain will be represented by Matthew Hudson-Smith and Luguelín Miguel Santos Aquino of the Dominican Republic. ENDS