Botswana celebrated a memorable night in the men’s 400 metres as 21-year-old Busang Collen Kebinatshipi stunned the field to win gold and set a new national record, while team-mate Bayapo Ndori secured bronze to give the southern African nation a superb double on the track.
Kebinatshipi seized control by the halfway mark and never looked back, powering to the line in a world-leading 43.53 seconds in a driving Tokyo rain at the National Stadium on Thursday.
Full results (final).
- Busang Collen KEBINATSHIPI (BOT) — 43.53
- Jereem RICHARDS (TTO) — 43.72
- Bayapo NDORI (BOT) — 44.20
- Rusheen MCDONALD (JAM) — 44.28
- Zakithi NENE (RSA) — 44.55
- Yuki Joseph NAKAJIMA (JPN) — 44.62
- Jacory PATTERSON (USA) — 44.70
- Lee Bhekempilo EPPIE (BOT) — 44.77
Trinidad and Tobago’s veteran Jereem Richards chased strongly to take silver in 43.72 (a national record), while Bayapo Ndori produced a resolute finish to claim bronze in a season’s best 44.20 after fending off Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald.
The result is also a clear signal ahead of the 4x400m relay final, where Botswana, buoyed by Kebinatshipi, Ndori and the presence of Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo, will be considered a formidable medal threat.
Kebinatshipi, who had previously collected medals largely as part of Botswana’s 4×400 squad, now steps forward as an established individual force after missing the individual Olympic final by one place last summer.
Kebinatshipi’s triumph in Tokyo marks a landmark moment for Botswana athletics, a performance that will be celebrated at home and that raises expectations for the country across both individual 400m and relay events as the championships continue.
Get real time update about this post category directly on your device, subscribe now.