13 Sep 2023

Botswana’s wonder kid Letsile Tebogo stands to make history as the first African to win Diamond Trophy in 100 metres at Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday.

Tebogo will line up against Jamaicans Ackeem Blake,Yohan Blake and Kishane Thompson while the US will be represented by Noah Lyles and Marvin Bracy. Germany will pin its hopes on Joshua Hartman and Ferdinand Omanyala will represent Kenya.

Some of the athletics pundits said the Saturday race could be won by any of the runners as they all wanted their names to be among list of the 100 metres Diamond League winners.

Although Lyles is  a clear favorite to win the race, it will be very suicidal of him to be complacent given that Tebogo is itching to avenge the Budapest World Championships loss to him.  In fact, Tebogo has proved overtime that he is the one to challenge Lyles and should he blink, ‘Turbo-Go’ will spoil the party.

Tebogo’s start has improved and should he kick the blocks the world will experience a photo finish between the two.

However, one other athlete who can cause havoc is Omanyala, who after finishing in disappointing position at the World Championships will want to wrap up the season with a Diamond Trophy in his cabinet.

He redeemed his pride during the Zagreb Continental Tour Gold last Sunday by finishing in position one a time of 9.94.     Tebogo will also line up for the 200m final still at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene on Sunday.

The start list consists of Americans Erriyon Knighton, Kenneth Bednarek and Kyree King, Canadians Aron Brown and Andre De Grasse, Alexander Ogando of Dominican Republic and the Joseph Fanbulleh of Liberia.

Tebogo’s coach Kebonyemodisa Mosimanye said he was in good shape adding that they had been focusing on therapy than training.

“So we haven’t been doing much. We just wanted to make sure that he heals completely, concerning his last injury.

I will say he is fine as he has passed all the tests and we increased the intensity on Monday training and he was just fine,” he said.

Meanwhile, Leungo Scotch will also make his debut in 400 metres final on Saturday and he will be against Alexander Ogando of Dominican Republic, USA’s Vernon Norwood, Quincy Hall and Bryce Deadmon, Smith Hudson of Great Brian, Gilles Biron of France and Kirani James of Grenada. Ends