Botswana’s answer to Michael Johnson, Isaac Makwala stormed to an emphatic 44.01 African Record at La Chaux-de-Fonds on Sunday, and somewhat amazingly followed it up with a 19.96 clocking over the 200m.
Makwala’s time of 44.01 needs to be put into perspective; 11th fastest of all time over the distance and smashing Gary Kikaya’s eight-year-old continental record, Makwala sits behind only Kirani James and Lashawn Merritt on the 2014 World Rankings.
To refer to Jim Rorick’s combined sprints list for trackandfieldnews.com, which awards points for 100m, 200m and 400m, Makwala sits 12th having now recorded 10.20, 19.96 and 44.01. This places him above previous 200m world record holder Pietro Mennea, with Usain Bolt, Michael Johnson and Tyson Gay occupying the top three spots.
Watching from a grassy bank at the 200m mark, Makwala seemed to reach 200m with the clock still showing 20seconds (aided by a huge following wind) and approach the 300m mark in 31seconds, faster than LaShawn Merritt or Kirani James recorded in the World Championships final in Moscow. A huge gasp was heard from the stands as spectators looked on at a flash time of 44.03, later rounded down to an official 44.01.
With a slight adjustment to the timetable, the 200m was brought forward slightly giving Makwala only half an hour recovery. Perhaps a little lucky with the headwind dying down to -0.4, Makwala pulled away from the field in the last 50m to stop the clock at 19.96 to take his second meeting record of the day.
Catch Isaac Makwala in action ahead of the Commonwealth Games in the 400m at the Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix this weekend.
