19 Jul 2022

 Bayapo Ndori and Isaac Makwala will compete in the 400 metres semi-finals tomorrow at 4:15am.

Ndori and Makwala made it to the semi-finals after finishing first and third in their respective heats at the ongoing World Championships held at Hayward Field in Oregon, USA.

Ndori qualified after finishing first and clocking a personal best time of 44.87, beating seasonal athlete, Kirani James of Grenanda who came in second with 45.29.

Makwala on one hand, qualified after finishing third with a time of 45.93.

Anthony Pesela bowed out of the competition after finishing sixth with 47.36.

On Thursday, Ndori would compete in heat two against Japanese Fuga Sato, Christopher O’Donnell of Ireland, Kirani James of Grenada, USA’s Michael Cherry, Zambian Muzala Samukonga and Alexander Doom from Belgium.

Makwala would take the track in heat three, which would feature Kazakhstani sprinter, Mikhail Litvin, Kevin Borlée of Belgium, Barbados’ Jonathan Jones, South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk, Dutch sprinter, Liemarvin Bonevacia, USA’s Champion Allison and Alex Haydock-Wilson of Great Britain.

In an interview, Team Botswana coach, Dose Mosimanyane, said he was happy with the athletes’ performance and was hopeful that they would make it to the next round.

On Ndori’s performance, Mosimanyane said he could tell that the athlete was determined to book himself a place in the semi-finals, particularly that it was his World Championships debut.

“During the heat, Ndori wanted to make sure he books a place in the semi-finals given that it was his first World Championships. Therefore he would like to experience each stage as it comes,” he said.

Mosimanyane also commended Makwala for running well in what he termed a difficult lane, adding ‘he did well to go out hard the first 200m. If you let them leave you far behind from the inside lanes, it is difficult to close the stagger on the last curve going into the home straight.’

On Pesela, who was in lane two, Mosimanyane said that was challenging place for him owing to his running style of attacking late.

“With his style of attacking late it meant he needed to close the stagger in the first 200m so that when he gets to home straight, he is slightly ahead or at least with the rest of the athletes, not too far behind,” he said.

Meanwhile, Botswana Athletics Association (BAA)’s former secretary general, Patrick Moesi, was of the view that going into the semi-finals, Makwala should give it his all so that he could qualify for the final.

“Makwala stands a good chance to make it to the finals, especially running from the outer lanes where he normally thrives. But he would have to start off quick in order to boost his chances of qualifying,” Moesi said.

On Ndori, Moesi said the athlete was a ‘surprise package’ having qualified with the best time and a personal best.

“He is a fighter and a very smooth runner and I expect another great performance in the semi-finals,” he said, adding for Ndori to have beaten James in the heats was a boost in confidence and would relish the chance of repeating the feat.

“If he can do that then he will definitely make it to the final. We may see him improve his time yet again,” he said. ENDS