06 Aug 2021

With a split time of 2:58:33, Botswana men's 4x400 metres relay team broke the African record today, easing into tomorrow's final determined to make a podium finish.

Botswana broke the 2:58.68 Africa Record in the heats at the Tokyo Olympics which was set by Nigeria in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics.

The quartet: captain Isaac Makwala, Baboloki Thebe, Zibani Ngozi and Bayapo Ndori finished in position two despite running against what some pundits termed a trick line up.

First was Makwala who ran a split of 44.90 and handed the baton to Thebe who did 44.80. On the leg were Olympic first timers Ngozi with 44.61 and Ndor,i who was the fastest in the field with 43.95.

The national team coach Justice Dibepa said in an interview after the race that the team’s performance was very impressive.

Track and field analyst, Aobakwe Showa said despite having less than 24hrs rest from individual final, Makwala put in a good show from the outside lane.

He said Makwala started well and handed the baton to Thebe on third position behind Trinidad and Tobago and eventual winners USA.

He said Makwala recorded a split time of 44.90s which was the slowest in the quartet but nevertheless impressive.

Thebe ran a blistering first 200m and had about six meters lead on the back straight, but he paid for it on the home straight as they closed a gap on every inch and eventually relegated to third spot.

Showa said Ngozi quickly recovered and regained second spot as he followed closely on Bryce Deadmon of America.

He said Ngozi showed  great endurance as he tried to outsprint Deadmon on the last bend but the American proved too strong and he held on the lead and Ngozi handed the baton to anchor man Ndori.

“At 22yrs old he did extremely well to hold on a strong field to bring the baton home to finish second behind the race favorites, the USA in a new National record of 2:58.33s,” he said. He said Ndori ran a time of 43.95s which was the quickest split by a mile in the heats, adding that 2:58.33s was a very impressive time. It is not only a National Record but an African record as well. Only USA had a better time going to the finals and that’s makes us a favorite for a podium finish,” he said. Ends