Thebe on course for historic Diamond League season

Thebe at the top of the 400m Diamond Race standings

BONGANI MALUNGA

Botswana’s Baboloki Thebe is on course to become the youngest IAAF Diamond League winner in the men’s 400m category, if he maintains his impressive form throughout the 2017 season. There are eight more editions of the Diamond League left, so far Thebe has participated in three races and judging by his start he could be one of the favourites to win the 400m category in September when the competition ends. Thebe is currently leading the 400m Diamond Race standings after three impressive outings.
Thebe started the season with a second place finish at the Eugene, USA edition with a 45.04 timing, he finished behind perennial leader LaShawn Merritt. Merritt has won three of the last four overall Diamond League titles in the 400m category and is the overwhelming front runner to defend his crown.
However, he is facing a fresh and youthful challenger in Thebe, the Botswana athlete has grown in leaps and bounds in the past year and is hungrier than most of Merritt’s competitors. Thebe and Merritt are currently separated by seven points, they have however faced off once this year as mentioned above.
Last week Thebe won his first ever Diamond League meet in Oslo, Norway as he outpaced British runner Matthew Hudson and Czech Republic’s Pavel Maslak. The Motswana athlete was the youngest participant in the race. His win is a major confidence boost for the youngster and he has shown early signs of being among the world’s best 400m athletes.
On Sunday, Thebe recorded a second place finish behind Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas in Stockholm, Sweden edition of the Diamond League. Thebe is currently six points ahead of his closest challenger, Gardiner who has 16 points.