29 Aug 2018

Baboloki Thebe will compete in the Diamond League final on August 30 in Weltklasse Zürich.

Despite running only three races to make it to the finals, his road to the final was not rosy as in his season’s opener in May he finished on position five with a time of 45.58.

In July he competed at the London Diamond League meeting where he finished on position four with a Season Best time of 44.54.

Thebe then competed in Birmingham early this month finishing on position seven after clocking 46.35, the result that has put him on position seven with 11 points. The 400 metres is made up South African Pieter Conradie, Nathan Strother, Fred Kerley, Paul Dedewo of the USA, Bahamian Steven Gardiner, British Matthew Hudson-Smith and Dominican sprinter, Luguelín  Santos.

In an interview, Thebe said he was aware of a strong field and was ready for the final.

“As you may be aware I have been camping at Olympic Center in Formia, Italy, and I would say the centre has all the necessary facilities which has made my daily training easy, so I am ready,” he said.

His aim, he said, was to enjoy the race without any pressure and to finish in the top three, depending on his body’s response on the day.

“I am aware that back home they are expecting results from me, but the most important thing is to finish the race healthy. Of course I will try my best and if the opportunity arises for me to take the trophy I will do that,” he said.

Track and field analyst, Billy Tambula said from the entry list Gardiner was the only athlete who was a consistent sub 44 runner.

He said the rest of the athletes were on the same level with Thebe, adding that Kerley, Smith and Dedewo were also in a better position to make up the first four.

He said Thebe was a fast athlete when in good shape, adding that after the Birmingham meet he had enough time to prepare for the final.

“It will be a debut final and he will want to leave a mark, I see him recording a very good time and finishing in the top five."

He also has a task of performing better as this will be his last race before the  2018 IAAF Continental Cup to be held in Ostrava,   Czech Republic, on September 8-9. ENDS