- Botswana’s 400m champion continues a remarkable season, closing the gap on athletics’ greatest mark
GAZETTE REPORTER
Collen Kebinatshipi’s 2026 season has developed into a record-breaking campaign, with the Botswana 400m sensation steadily improving across individual races and relay events as he builds towards the global stage.
Kebinatshipi opened his season on 08 March with a 100m time of 10.53 seconds before switching focus to the 400m, where he clocked 44.55 seconds on 21 March. His momentum continued in April when he recorded 9.89 seconds in the 100m on 03 April, a time he matched later the same day, while also producing a 4x100m relay split of 39.18 seconds.
His progression has been reflected in both speed and endurance, with performances that have placed him among the world’s leading quarter-milers.
Relay Impact
Kebinatshipi also played a key role in Botswana’s relay performances during the season. On 02 May, he helped the national team record 2:57.52 in the 4x400m before improving that mark to 2:54.47 the following day.
He closed May with his strongest 400m performance at the time, running 43.92 seconds on 23 May 2026.
The improvement continued into June and July, with Kebinatshipi clocking 43.54 seconds on 28 June and 44.00 seconds on 04 July before producing a national record performance on 10 July.
Record Breaking
Kebinatshipi ran 43.44 seconds on 10 July 2026 to set a new Botswana national record and register a personal best, moving closer to Wayde van Niekerk’s world record of 43.03 seconds set nearly a decade ago.
The performance also placed him alongside Briton Matthew Hudson-Smith as the sixth-fastest 400m athlete of all time. He further broke his own Diamond League record with the performance.
The season’s progression highlights Kebinatshipi’s continued rise in the event, with his performances showing a consistent improvement from his opening race in March to his latest record-breaking run in July.
His 43.44-second performance represents a significant milestone in Botswana’s athletics history and places him among the leading names in the global 400m conversation as he continues his pursuit of further success.