Letsile Tebogo explodes to season best in Hungary as Kishane Thompson, Akani Simbine blaze track

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Letsile Tebogo explodes to season best in Hungary as Kishane Thompson, Akani Simbine blaze track

Festus Chuma 20:09 - 09.07.2024

Letsile Tebogo has hit a season best in Hungary alongside stellar performances from Kishane Thompson and Akani Simbine.

Botswana sprinter Letsile Tebogo stormed to a season-best time on Tuesday night lighting up the track at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial in Szekesfehervar, Hungary.

Tebogo, who is the 100m world silver medalist, clocked an impressive 9.99 seconds to secure second place in a highly anticipated race that also featured top talents like Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson and South Africa's Akani Simbine.

The event was charged with excitement as fans anticipated a thrilling clash among the trio of sprint stars.

Thompson, who currently holds the title of the world's fastest man this year after a remarkable 9.77 seconds at the Jamaican national championships, did not disappoint.

He blazed through the finish line in first place with a remarkable time of 9.91 seconds.

Simbine, a former African champion and a crowd favorite, showed his prowess by finishing third, just a whisker behind Tebogo, clocking in at 10.01 seconds.

His performance echoed his previous victories in Szekesfehervar, where he set South African records in 2016 and again in 2021 with times of 9.89 and 9.84 seconds, respectively.

The race was not just about the leading trio as other notable sprinters in the line-up included Rohan Watson from Jamaica, who finished with a time of 10.15 seconds, and the United States' Ronnie Baker, who clocked 10.18 seconds.

Kendal Williams, also from the United States, and Michael Campbell from Jamaica, finished with times of 10.20 and 10.28 seconds, respectively, while Hungary’s own Zalan Deak rounded out the field with a time of 10.69 seconds.

Tebogo's performance was particularly poignant given his recent personal challenges.

The young sprinter had faced a huge setback with the loss of his mother, Seratiwa Tebogo, which undoubtedly impacted his preparations and mental state.

However, his remarkable comeback at the Africa Senior Athletics Championships proved his resilience and determination to compete at the highest level.

Looking ahead, Tebogo has his sights set on the upcoming Paris Olympics.

His silver medal from last year’s World Championships fuels his ambition to reach the top of the podium this time around.

Before he heads to the World Championships, Tebogo will compete at the Diamond League Meeting in Monaco where he hopes to continue his impressive form and challenge other top contenders like Noah Lyles.