29 May 2019

The 400m runner, Baboloki Thebe, will take to the track at the Stockholm Diamond League meeting tomorrow (May30) at around 8p.m.

Thebe, who will be competing in his first meeting this season, will face five Americans; Rai Benjamin, Michael Cherry, Michael Norman, Vernon Norwood and Nathan Strother as well as Slovenian sprinter, Luka Janežič and Bralon Taplin, who is a Grenadian sprinter.

Thebe recorded a Season Best (SB) of 45.34 during the Gaborone International Meet in Gaborone last month. However, he is cognizant of the fact that he has a mountain to climb tomorrow night.

He said in an interview that the race will not be easy, adding that it would be won by an athlete who would execute his race plan well.

“To be honest I am not under any pressure. I am going to enjoy my race. Remember that the most important thing is to finish the race healthy. This is my first Diamond League competition, let us wait and see how my body will respond,” he said.

He said his mission would be to ran as fast as he could and it would be a blessing, should he clock Tokyo 2020 qualifying time of 44.90.

 “Even if I don’t run sub 45 I still have more races lined up, I know it is early, but like I said should my body allow me I will give it my best shot,” he said.

Track and field analyst, Bonno Modisenyane, said there was no doubt that Thebe would face a tough field with world fastest lap runners including new kid on the block, Michael Norman, who has a World Lead of 43.45.

He said Thebe should also be careful of 400 metre hurdler Rai , who was  a serious contender with a Personal Best  of  44.31 and has since ran  the second fastest time  this year.

“For Thebe to win this race, he will have to dick deep into his tank to go sub 43 or run a lower 44. Norman, who recently turned professional, have not being beaten over the lap since turning professional,” he said

According to Modisenyane, Thebe would enter the race with the intension to gauge his fitness level against the world’s finest lap runners as they prepare for the Doha World Championships in September. ENDS