Botswana’s speed sensation Letsile Tebogo showed he’s intent on claiming another medal at the World Athletics Championships after powering to a spectacular silver medal in the 100m last Sunday.
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The 20-year-old was back on the track for the 200m heats in a steamy hot Budapest on Wednesday, sailing to a comfortable victory in 20.22 seconds.
“The race was comfortable, the main goal was to save energy because there are two more rounds,” he said afterwards. “I needed to make sure I qualified for the semifinal.”
Tebogo has already broken Namibian Frankie Fredericks’ 26-year-old African record set at the Atlanta Olympics with a time of 19.50 a month ago and will be looking to go even quicker in the Hungarian capital.
“I think I will need to run faster than 19.50 for the title,” he said. “[American 100m gold medallist] Noah Lyles will attack the world record, and maybe, if I push him hard, he could set it. I am not thinking about it now. My focus is on the next round.”
Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh also qualified for the 200m semifinals after finishing second behind Tebogo in 20.42.
Three South Africans also safely made their way through the heats. 2022 World Championships finalist Luxolo Adams was the quickest of them, finishing third in his heat in 20.15. Both Sinesipho Dambile (20.34) and Shaun Maswanganyi (20.56) were also third in their heats to book automatic qualifying spot.
Speaking about the fact that all three had made it through, Dambile reckoned: “That’s big. I’m happy for them, so we have to just find a way to make it through to the final and I think it’s possible, you never know.”
Nigeria’s Alaba Olukunle Akintola (20.54) and Uganda’s Tarsis Gracious Orogot (20.44) also progressed to the semifinals.
Meanwhile, three Ivorians made it through to the semifinals of the women’s 200m. Marie-Joseée Ta Lou bounced back from the disappointment of missing the podium in the 100m on Monday night by producing a season’s beat to keep her 200m medal hopes alive. The 34-year-old finished second in her heat in a 22.26. Both her compatriots, Jessika Gbai (22.78) and Maboundou Koné (22.55) were third in their respective races to book their semifinals spots.
Also through were Nigeria’s Favour Ofili (22.66) and Gambian Gina Bass (23.02).
Speaking after the race, Ta Lou explained: “I had a good mindset today. The 100m final on Monday was tough because I know what I'm capable of, but at the end of the day I'm grateful to be here, grateful to finish fourth, because last year I wasn't able to do anything.
“I just have to keep my focus on what's coming next. That is most important. I always give 200 per cent, but now it is up to 1000 per cent. I want to produce a surprise in the 200m because I've been focusing on the 100 all season.”
STRONG AFRICAN CHALLENGE IN WOMEN’S 800M
Six African women made it safely through the heats of the 800m on Wednesday morning.
Among them was Kenya’s gold medal hopeful Mary Moraa who maintained her unbeaten record this season by winning her heat in a time of 1:59.89.
“I feel well prepared and confident, but it was not so easy to win the heat because of the hot weather. I pushed myself hard before the finish line,” said Moraa afterwards. “I needed time before I could walk after the race. It is good to recognise that I am in shape and ready to fulfil my dream. My target is to finish on the podium here.”
Also winning their heats were Benin’s Noélie Yarigo in 1:59.96, Uganda’s former world champion Halimah Nakaayi (1:59.68) and Ethiopia’s Habitam Alemu (1:59.36).
“It's a great feeling to have made the semifinals but of course it's my dream to become a champion again,” said Nakaayi, who claimed the 800m world title in Doha in 2019. “It was great when I did that and I'm yearning for that feeling again. I wasn't at my best last year but now I am getting back to that level. I am very happy about my progress. I think I'll do great here.”
The others to progress were South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso, who finished second in her heat in 1:59.72 and Ethiopia’s Worknesh Mesele who was third in her race in 2:00.13.
Botswana’s Oratile Nowe ran a new national record of 2:01.62 but did not progress to the semifinals.
Elsewhere, South African Jo-Ane van Dyk’s third-round effort in the javelin was enough to see her through to Friday’s final, but compatriot Kyle Rademeyer’s clearance of 5.70m in the pole vault did not qualify him for that final.
Cheswill Johnson also fell short in the long jump. His first-round leap of 7.61m was well off his best of 8.26m and meant he will not take part in the final. Namibia’s Chenault Coetzee also didn’t make it through with his best effort of 7.55m.
Tonight's evening session will feature Kenya's 1500m gold medallist Faith Kipyegon in the 5000m heats at 7.27pm while the men's 1500m final kicks off at 9.15pm. Nigeria's world record holder Tobi Amusan will be in action in the 100m hurdles semifinals, running in the second race at 8.53pm while South Africa's Marione Fourie will also be looking to book her ticket to the final. She'll be running in the third semifinal at 9.01pm.