Tebogo could be SADC's sprinting star

The entry lists for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games have been published, featuring the names of athletes qualified to compete in France between 1 and 11 August.The Southern African Development Community (SADC) are well represented by ten men in the 100 metres and six in the 200. However, not a single woman has qualified for the 100 or 200.Letsile Tebogo from Botswana (100 and 200) looks like a sure thing to bring some silverware back to the SADC region. As a 20-year-old, Tebogo last year won silver in the 100 and bronze in the 200 at the World Championship in Budapest, Hungary. Akani Simbine, Shaun Maswanganyi, Benjamin Richardson and Wayde van Niekerk from South Africa are medal contenders in the 100 and 200.Richardson ran the fifth fastest time in the 100 for 2024, followed by Simbine (14th), Tebogo (26th) and Maswanganyi (46th).In the 200 so far in 2024, Tebogo is placed third, with Richardson (19th), Maswanganyi (24th), Van Niekerk (55th) and Simbine (62nd) also poised for a challenge on the big day. Athletes from some 200 countries will compete across the programme of 48 events, which includes 23 women’s and 23 men’s disciplines, as well as two mixed events – the 4x400m mixed relay and the marathon race walk mixed relay.Among the entries are 36 champions of the Tokyo Olympics’ individual events, who will defend their titles at the Stade de France and on the roads of Paris. They include all but one of the individual defending champions in the men’s events, as well as 15 in the women’s events.Faith Kipyegon (1500m), Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (400m hurdles), Karsten Warholm (400m hurdles), Armand “Mondo” Duplantis (pole vault), Ryan Crouser (shot put) and Anita Wlodarczyk (hammer throw) are among the world record holders who return, targeting back-to-back Olympic triumphs.Dutch runner Sifan Hassan has been entered in four events. Besides potentially defending her 5000m and 10 000m titles, she could also line up for the 1500m and the marathon.The youngest track and field athlete entered for this Olympic Games is Kenaz Kaniwete of Kiribati, who will be 16 years, 4 months and 6 days when he lines up for the first round of the 100m.Sinead Diver is the oldest athlete entered. The Australian will be 47 years, 4 months and 24 days on the day of the women’s marathon.Official start lists will only become available after the technical meeting on the eve of the Games. The SADC countries are Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.Sprinters from SADC countries:100 metres men: Marcos Santos (Angola), Letsile Tebogo (Botswana), Hachim Maaroufou (Comoros), Dominique Mulamba (Democratic Republick the Congo), Sibusiso Matsenjwa (Eswatini), Rija Gardner (Madagascar), Gary Bibi (Mauritius), Steven Sabino (Mozambique), Dylan Sicobo (Seychelles), Shaun Maswanganyi, Benjamin Richardson and Akani Simbine (South Africa). 200 metres men: Letsile Tebogo (Botswana), Shaun Maswanganyi, Benjamin Richardson and Wayde van Niekerk (South Africa), Makanakaishe Charamba and Tapiwanashe Makarawu (Zimbabwe).- tielman@nmh-hub.com.na

Tebogo could be SADC's sprinting star

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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Tebogo could be SADC's sprinting star

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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