28 Aug 2019

Three-time Diamond League champion, Nijel Amos, is expected to pull out all the stops at tomorrow’s (August 29) Weltklasse- Zurich Diamond League final to become the race’s four-time winner.

The 800m runner takes to the track at 8:13 pm.

Victory will make him a legend as the first athlete to win the championship four times.

The Marobela-born lad qualified for the finals after finishing second with a cumulative 31 Diamond League points.

He registered three victories before coming second to American Donovan Braizer.

Amos is aiming for a major comeback following an injury he suffered in Birmingham where he could not finish the race.

However, Amos seems more than ready to wrestle the crown away from his track nemesis, Emmanuel Korir of Kenya.

With his teammate, Harun Abda from Oregon Track Club setting the pace, the ball is now in Amos’ court to bring the highly coveted Diamond trophy home. The pair always means business whenever they take to the track together.

Zoro will line up with America’s Braizer and Clayton Murphy, Kenya's Korir, Wyclife Kinyamal and Ferguson Cheruiyot-Rotich, Canada's Brandon McBride, and Bosnia's and Herzegovina middle-distance runner Amel Tuka.

Local track and field analyst Aobakwe Showa said Harun as the pacesetter in the finals would give Amos an edge, given that two of his three fastest career times were produced in the two’s combination.

“With Harun in the mix, we are likely to see a very fast race. I’m expecting Amos to employ the same race tactics which is, to chase the rabbit from the start with the rest of the field following closely behind,” he said.

The pacesetter, he said was likely to take the athletes through a lightning quick 400m of probably 49 low split with perhaps Korir, Kinyamal and McBride who always enjoy front running following very closely behind Amos. 

Showa, said Amos should be weary of the on-form Rotich and Donovan who always bank on strong finishing and should the race be slow the duo can mount a rally against Amos.

“Should the race go to the wire, Amos will rely on his great speed and fitness to carry him to the finish line, but to be honest, Amos really looks unbeatable and his 1:41.89 time which has put him as the favorite athlete to watch,” he said.

He said Amos had been the most consistent half-miler for almost six years, and had always been amongst top-two times in the world each year. 

“For me the recipe for success for Amos will always be front running, even if he has to set his own tempo, he must gun it to the very end, the shape he is in now allows that,” he said. 

According to Showa, Amos had always failed when he faced a hesitant field and ended up running with the crowd.

“When he takes the field he should follow his race plan to the latter. Anything short of the title will be a great underachievement for the man who has so much success in Diamond League type races over the years,” he said.

Meanwhile Christine Botlogetswe will not compete in the 400 meters, women finals, as she is nursing an injury. BOPA