14 Sep 2026

National athletics stars have delivered a historic campaign at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship held in Budapest, Hungary, with a national record. 

The results reverberated back home, where the nation tuned in to watch the team’s historic campaign unfold.

In 400m, Collen Kebinatshipi etched his name into athletics history by shattering the national record with a time of 43.39 seconds.

Departing from his signature come-from-behind strategy, Kebinatshipi dictated the race right from the starting blocks, surging into an early lead and dominating a world-class field to finish far ahead of his competitors.

His remarkable performance makes him the fifth-fastest 400m runner in history.

Upon crossing the finish line, he celebrated by performing push-ups on the track as tribute to the legendary Isaac Makwala.

On one hand, Bhekimpilo Eppie joined him in the showcase final and crossed the finish line seventh with a time of 44.66 seconds to underscore the country’s growing sprinting talent.

The momentum carried over to the 200m final, where Letsile Tebogo secured second position by clocking 19.76 seconds.

Tebogo’s podium finish capped off a gruelling and physically demanding season to reaffirm his elite status and mental resilience on the international circuit.

In other events, Kemorena Tisang finished sixth in semi-final heat two of the 400m hurdles with a time of 49.21 seconds, while Oratile Nowe finished sixth in her 800m semi-final heat, clocking 2:01.03. ENDS