Mboma could run 100m says Botha
By Michael Uugwanga
DESPITE Christine Mboma stating that her focus will be in the 200m this year, even after winning the 100m at last weekend’s Athletics Namibia (AN) Grand Prix in Swakopmund, her coach Henk Botha has said that there is a possibility that the athlete could be running in both 100m and 200m.
Mboma beat training partner and fellow Olympian sprinter Beatrice Masilingi in the 100m.
Botha said that a decision of such kind for Mboma to take part in future 100m races at major international events will depend on the request by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) Diamond League.
However, Botha has said that there is a possibility that the Olympian might run in the 100m at the African Athletics Championships scheduled for Yaoundé, Cameroon from June 2 to 6; and at the Commonwealth Games slated for Birmingham, UK from July 28 to August 8.
“In the Diamond League you are invited and you do not just decide that you want to run in the 100m. Obviously if they (Mboma and Masilingi) are invited then we will have to discuss it and see if we are ready for it, but there is a possibility that we look at the Commonwealth Games and the African Championships in the 100m,” he said.
Mboma who turns 19 in May is already seen as the heir to twice double Olympic 100m and 200m champion Elaine Thompson-Herah (29), who beat the Namibian in the final of the women’s 200m at last year’s Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Last year Mboma won the women’s 200m race at the Diamond League in Brussels, Belgium.
There were also talks that Masilingi could be running in the 60m indoor, but such a move seems to be unlikely.
The two young sprinters are now under pressure to repeat their achievements of last year that saw them winning numerous events, something that Botha is aware of.
“As far as the indoor competition is concerned I am not sure on whether we are able to do that because it has already started.
As far as pressure on Mboma and Masilingi … everybody wants them to win and obviously that puts them under pressure, but I will not say that they are under tremendous pressure”.