Botswana’s 400m champion, Isaac Izak Makwala, today smashed the African men’s 400m record at the 35th Résisprint International athletics meeting, inside the Stade de la Charrière, in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.
Isaac Makwala, the fastest African over 400m in 2014, stormed over the finish line in 44.01 seconds – erasing the previous record of 44.10 set by Gary Kikaya of the DR Congo eight years ago (on September 9, 2006) in Stuttgart, Germany.
His compatriot Pako Seribe came second in 45.21 while Savior Kombe of Zambia finished third in 45.48.
Makwala’s time, subject to ratification by the IAAF, is not only a new African record, but also the third fastest time this year and a new national record for Botswana.
Makwala later came back to win the men’s 200m in a stunning 19.96 seconds, another national record for the Botswana star, and bettered the meets records for the 200m (20.29 by Stéphane Buckland of Mauritius) and the 400m ( 44.64 by Leslie Djhone of France).
Nigerian-born Femi Ogunode of Qatar clocked 20.32 for second place and Mosito Lehata of Lesotho finished in third place in 20.73.
Selected Results
100m – Men
- Femi Ogunode (Qatar) 10.10
- Mosito Lehata (Lesotho) 10.23
- Simon Magakwe (Afrique du sud/RSA) 10.26
100m – Women
- Horn Carina (Afrique du sud/ RSA) 11.25
- Ta Lou Gonezie Marie Josée (France) 11.38
- Ikuesan Ayodele (France) 11.38
200m – Men
- Isaac Makwala (Botswana) 19.96
- Femi Ogunode (Qatar) 20.32
- Mosito Lehata (Lesotho) 20.73
- Demonte Enrico (Italy) 20.82
- Simon Magakwe (Afrique du sud/RSA) 21.09
400m – Men
- Isaac Makwala (Botswana) 44.01
- Pako Seribe (Botswana) 45.21
- Savior Kombe (Zambia) 45.48
- Pecceu David (France) 46.45
See the Full 2014 Results:
Results – 2014 Résisprint international La Chaux-de-Fonds