Botswana’s finest 100 metres runner, Baboluki Thebe has pulled a big surprise by qualifying for 2016 Rio Olympic Games in the 400 metres race in the Private Tertiary Institutions Association athletics championship held at the University of Botswana on Saturday. The 18-year-old sprinter clocked 45:23 beating other 400 metre specialists; Isaac Makwala who finished on position two with 45:58, while Karabo Sibanda clocked 46:32 and Boitumelo Masilo 46:58 to finish on position four.
The 400 metres qualifying time is 45:40 and Thebe is now the fourth athlete to qualify for Rio joining the trio of Nijel Amos who qualified for 800 metres, Isaac Makwala and Onkabetse Nkobolo for 400 metres.
The young athlete proved to be too good for both Makwala and Sibanda in the curves and with 50 metres it was clear that Thebe will make it. He was now fighting with the clock to record a better time, and at the end of the race he made it with 45:23.
Thebe’s qualification was a good omen for the 4×400 men’s team as that would give the coach a good chance to pick a good team looking at the pool of good athletes who have so far managed to qualify. He won a gold medal in 200m and bronze in 100m at the 2nd Africa Youth Games last year. He also set a new national junior record in 100 metres at the Sports View International meet clocking 10:29 seconds.
