11 Jun 2019

Botswana’s 400 metres runners, Christine 'Size 10' Botlogetswe and Baboloki 'Hurricane' Thebe will continue  their European Circuit at the Meeting de Montreuil in France tonight.

Thebe will line up at 8.18 pm while Botlogetswe will follow at 8.55 pm. Botlogetswe will share the track with Utated States' Courney Okolo, Jaide Stepter and Brianna Thomas, Canadian; Madeline Price, French sprinters; Kelly Pauline and Amandine Brossier as well as Latvian; sprinter Gunta Vaičule.

On paper, Botlogetswe stands a better chance given that, on the start list, she is the fastest this season with the 51.17 time she ran at the memorial Leon Buyle meet in Belgium recently.

Thebe will once again try to better his time after running a slow time in Hengelo FBK games where he finished second with 45:51.

His competitiors include: American; Vernom Norwood, Slovenian sprinter; Luka Janežič, South Africans; Pieter Conradie and Thapelo Phora, while Mame-Ibra Anne, Thomas Jordier and Loic Prevot will represent France.

Track and field analyst, Aobakwe Showa said Botlogetswe would be against an equally good field and the biggest threat will be from the Americans, especially Courtney,  who has a better Personal Best of 49:71. 

He, however said Botlogetswe's greatest strength was in her strong finishing as demonstrated by her race in Shanghai and last year in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, where she nearly made in to the podium.

He said 400m requires both endurance and speed, and Botlogetswe’s greatest strength was her endurance, which she has indicated by strong finishes in her previous races. 

Showa said although Botlogetswe did not have great speed, she had complemented that with her over strides running pattern, which madeher cover a longer distance quicker.

“I understand his coach, Justice Dipeba wants her to run few 200m races to improve her speed and that will be good preparation for the Doha World championships,” he said. ends