Africa-Press – Botswana. Tshepiso Masalela delivered an outstanding performance finishing first with a World Lead and Meeting Record of 1:42.70 in 800 metres at the Rabat Diamond League in Morocco yesterday.
Fresh from clocking a World Lead time of 1:43.11 during the Doha Diamond League meeting last week, Masalela took the Rabat Diamond League by storm dropping a Personal Best, World Lead and Meeting Record of 1:42.70. He cancelled the Meeting Record time of 1:43.58, which was set by Ethiopian Aman Mohammed in 2012. His impressive performance underscores that with enough resources and support, Botswana has the potential to develop elite middle distance runners.
Masalela, who is well known for attacking from behind, this time followed the pacesetter. He did not want to falter because one of the Kenyan strong runners, Emmanuel Wanyonyi was in the mix. Aware that Masalela was his strong competitor, Wanyonyi anticipated his strategy of trailing from behind and allowed him to follow the pacesetter, hoping that he would falter, but that did not happen.
His compatriot, Kethobogile Haingura finished fifth with 1:43.82, and with the return of the 2012 Olympic silver medalist, some athletics pundits are now yearning to see the three Botswana 800-metre runners sharing the track. On a good day, Haingura is capable of dropping good times, and with these three athletes, Botswana should now show off its 800-metre prowess to the world.
A recurring knee injury denied Letsile Tebogo to fully compete in the 100 metres, as he slowed down and finished in position nine with a time of 10.43. He was scheduled to also line up in the 200 metres, but did not start the race for fear of aggravating the injury. Botswana 400 metres runner Bayapo Ndori also did not finish his race, pulling off due to a hamstring injury while Leungo Scotch clocked a time of 45.89 to finish in position seven.
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