02 Jun 2019

Botswana’s 400 metres athlete, Baboloki Thebe, is expected to redeem himself at the Josef Odložil Memorial competition scheduled for Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic today.

Thebe came eighth with a time of 48.85 at Stockholm Diamond League meeting recently.

He said in an interview that what happened in Stockholm was water under the bridge.

“I came here to honour and commemorate Josef Odložil, who won silver in the 1500 metres in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games,” he said.

Thebe said his body was rearing to go, adding that his mission was to cancel the time he ran at Stockholm.

Thebe, who was yet to clock the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games qualifying time of 44.90, said he was not under pressure given that he had numerous races lined up.

He would share the track with American Vernon Norwood, Czech sprinters Pavel Maslák and Michal Desenský, Slovenian sprinter, Luka Janežič, English sprinter Dwayne Cowan, Dutch athletes Tony van Diepen and Liemarvin Bonevacia

Track and field analyst, Lentswe Charles said the Josef Odložil meet would enable athletes to record better times.

He said Thebe would have to redeem his pride.

He said 400m races required good pace judgement and energy distribution to help maintain a good race rhythm.

“The one who trained properly in both components of endurance, speed and strength with a good understanding of how 400 m should be run emerging from both lanes will emerge the winner even though the race factor can change the athlete race plan,” he said.

Furthermore, he said 400m was won on the homestretch or the last 100 m  saying that was where an athlete should be able to reach, without depleted energy system and finish with smooth deceleration with as little tightening up at the finish as possible.

He, however, said Thebe would have pressure from veteran Maslak on his home ground, predicting either Thebe or Maslak to win the race with a time of 45 seconds or low. ENDS