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Tebogo returns to world champs podium with 200m bronze

athletics25 August 2023 20:54| © SuperSport
By:Karien Jonckheere
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Letsile Tebogo (L) © Gallo Images

Botswana’s young sprint sensation Letsile Tebogo made his second trip to the World Athletics Championships podium in Budapest on Friday, blazing to a bronze medal in the 200m to add to his 100m silver.

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The 20-year-old, who just last month broke Frankie Fredericks’ 26-year-old African record over 200m, held on from the outside lane to finish in 19.81 as the USA's two-time defending champion Noah Lyles completed his sprint double in Budapest by taking the gold in 19.52. His compatriot, Erriyon Knighton, secured the silver in 19.75.

Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh finished in ninth place in 20.57.

“This bronze medal is a bonus for me, because the main goal was to see how my body can react after so many rounds of fast running,” said Tebogo afterwards. “It really shows everything is going in the right direction.

“The crowd at the stadium helped me to finish this amazing work. They were crazy cheering and it really motivated me to keep going. My performance in Budapest means a lot to me, to the country and to the continent, because it is not about me, it is about the people.

“I believe I am a role model for young people in Botswana because there have not been many sprinters from my country,” he added.

There was disappointment for Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josée Ta Lou who never recovered from a bad start in the women’s 200m final and finished in last place in 22.64. Jamaica’s defending champion Shericka Jackson was in a class of her own, blitzing to gold in a championship record of 21.41 – the second fastest time in history, with Americans Gabby Thomas (21.81) and Sha’Carri Richardson (21.92) taking the silver and bronze.

Earlier in the evening, South Africa’s sprinters were once again all smiles after powering to second place in their 4x100m relay heat to book a spot in Saturday night’s final.

Bouncing back from the disappointment of his disqualification in the 100m semifinals because of a false start, Akani Simbine anchored the team home in a time of 37.72.

Shaun Maswanganyi ran the first leg and handed the baton to Benjamin Richardson with Clarence Munyai making his first appearance at the championships in the third leg.

Speaking after the race, Simbine said: “It was good. It feels good to run, it feels good to race, it feels good to be able to be on the track again. For me it’s more about being on the track and also being on the track with these guys and being able to mentor them into the next generation in South Africa. It’s really great and for me, I’m happy, happy for the guys, happy for the team and excited for tomorrow.”

The Nigerian team of Favour Oghene Tejiri Ashe, Usheoritse Itsekiri, Alaba Olukunle Akintola and Seye Ogunlewe finished fifth in 38.20 and did not progress to the final.

In the women’s 4x100m relay heats, the Ivorian team of Murielle Ahouré-Demps, Ta Lou, Jessika Gbai and Maboundou Koné finished second to book their place in the final. But the Nigerian quartet of Justina Eyakpobeyan, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma and Faith Okwose failed to get the baton past the first changeover.

Speaking afterwards, Ivory Coast’s Ahouré-Demps said: “We are still building this team, which is why we are so proud of our time today. It is exciting to show the world we are part of this field again. Africa is here. We just needed to trust that we could reach finals, that we could enter the big game.”

Later on, Kenya’s Mary Moraa performed her usual dance celebration after booking her spot in the women’s 800m final. The Commonwealth Games champion won her semifinal in 1:58.48 with Uganda’s Halimah Nakaari also progressing from the same race after finishing third in 1:58.89. A little further back in the field, there was drama for South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso, who looked to be in great shape but clipped the heels of the runner in front of her and tumbled to the track, so missing out on a shot at making her first World Championships final.

“It hurt, but that is the payment for getting to the final,” said Moraa afterwards. “To go through with the fastest time was not the target, but it confirmed my shape and how ready I am to fight for the podium. I have no idea what kind of race we will have in the final, but I am ready for a different tactic.”

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