29 Aug 2024

After dominating the 200 metres race in recent weeks, Letsile Tebogo will take to the track in 100 metres at the Rome Diamond League today.

Tebogo will face the likes of Jamaican Ackeem Blake, Olympic silver medallist, Kishane Thompson, Olympic bronze medallist, Fred Kerley and Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala.

Tebogo finished sixth with a time of 9.86 in 100 metres at the Olympic Games and has expressed the view that the world’s most prestigious title of the fastest human being requires a perfect start and execution to win.  

His coach, Kebonyemodisa Mosimanyane said he was happy with his sprinter’s performance and form, adding that they would use the 100 metres dash to sharpen his reflexes and  speed. 

He noted that Tebogo might even qualify for the 100m finals, but that their main target was the 200m title.

Mosimanyane said they need to collect as many points as possible, but that they also want Tebogo to be healthy for the finals, adding that they agreed to strike a balance between honouring their contractual obligations, keeping healthy, having fun and recovering while maintaining fitness for the finals.

The coach said they did not train between races and used the days between competitions to recover.

About breaking Usain Bolt’s 200 metres world record, the coach said the record would be broken if it does, but that they would not be chasing it.

“We’ll just keep working on getting better, getting faster and reducing the personal best time as well as improving the ranking.

Tebogo is currently 14th in the Diamond League standings  with six points after finishing third at the London Diamond League, which is currently at number five,” he said.

Still at the Friday encounter, both Collen Kebinatshipi and Bayapo Ndori will be competing in 400 metres against the USA’s Bryce Deadmon, Charles Dobson of Great Britain, Kirani James of Grenada, Trinidadian sprinter Jereem Richards and Zambian Muzala Samukonga.

Ndori has 15 points in 400 metres while Kebinatshipi is in position seven with 11 points and both are poised to qualify for the Diamond League finals to be held in Brussels on September 13-14.Ends