02 Sep 2018

After a long season in the Diamond League circuit, Baboloki Thebe managed to finish on position five with a time of 45.41 at the finals staged in Zurich on August 30.

Thebe’s Diamond League season has been not so rosy as he started on a low note in the opener in Doha in May, finishing fifth with a time of 45.58.

Thebe’s performance improved during the London Diamond League meet after recording a season best time of 44.54 in July.

Just when his followers thought he had found his rhythm, his performance nose-dived in Birmingham finishing in position seven with a time of 46.35.

Thebe admitted in an interview that he failed to stage a good performance.

“I think next season it will be better. I will make sure I work hard, honestly I am not happy with my Diamond League performance this season,” he said.

Thebe said his poor performance might be attributed to a lot of issues amongst them the Commonwealth Games. He said they came early in the season and changed his programme.

He said before heading back home he would be representing Africa at the 2018 IAAF Continental Cup in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on September 8.

Track and field analyst Billy Tambula said the athlete worked hard, closing the gap on his opponents and maintaining his speed in the last bend.

He said he needed to gauge his speed with athletes on his outside hence going with them straight from the start, adding that he emerged first beyond the bend to lead the pack.

With about 50 metres left, he said it was evident that he had used more energy and was beginning to tire.

“You could really see an improvement in his fitness compared to the last race. It is that time of the year that does not normally produce quick times in this event, and most of the times it is a more tactical race because of the prize money,” he said. ENDS