09 Jun 2021

Isaac Makwala, who on Sunday won 200 metres event with a time of 20.37, in the FBK Continental tour games in Hengelo, Netherlands, will today compete in the 400 metres Wanda Florence Diamond League in Rome, Italy.

Makwala will be against Italians Edoardo Scotti, Vladimir Aceti and Davide Re, Trinidadian sprinter Machel Cedenio, British track and field sprinter, Matthew Hudson-Smith, South African Zakhithi Nene and Colombian Anthony Zambrano.

On paper, a fierce battle will be expected between Makwala and Zambrano as they both have good start and finishing techniques, but reality is very unpredictable.

Track and field analyst, Aobakwe Showa said in an interview that Makwala would take to the field with the hope of continuing with his fine form after almost three years of absence from the Diamond League circuit due to injury.

He said based on his current form, the field was not really stacked and they were likely to witness a two-horse race between him and Zambrano.

“The two are the only athletes with a sub 45s season’s best and their times rank in top 20  with Makwala 44.65s ranking 12 and Zambrano on the sixth spot with 44.57s,” he said.

Furthermore he said akwala and Hudson-Smith were two athletes who always prefer to go hard from the start and he would be expecting nothing less from the duo.

Showa said Makwala must have a perfect race plan and must reserve enough to hold off the Columbian, who seems to always have something in store for the final phase of the race.Italian’s Davide Re and South African Zakhithi Nene, he said were also fast finishers, adding that he was confident on Makwala’s shape.

Another analyst, Omogolo Ramoroba said the Florence Diamond League meeting would be a good test to help Makwala gauge his 400m progress.

He said Makwala had been sharpening his speed endurance by competing in the 200m and this gives him an edge over his competitors going into the race. He added that the 200m usually offered a boost in building strength, developing good form and recruiting muscles efficiently.

On paper, he said the race should be between Makwala and Zambrano but it was very difficult to express an outcome in advance because they would be up against a strong field, with three other men Cedenio, Hudson-Smith and Re having run below 45s in the past and they were also running out of time to attain the Olympic Games mark.

Furthermore, he said the Florence Diamond League race was very critical because it would help Makwala test his tactics and identify areas that needed reformation going into Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“It’s good to have Makwala back at the European scene, after a lengthy injury lay-off. I think he has fully recovered and is healthy for the Olympics,” he said.  Ends