Letsile Tebogo of Botswana set a new record in the 300m race on Saturday, February 17, at the Simbine Curro Classic Shoot-Out in Pretoria, South Africa. It was an incredible feat of performance.
The 20-year-old sensation set a new world-best time of 30.69, eclipsing the previous record of 30.81 held by Wayde van Niekerk since June 28, 2017. This remarkable feat solidifies Tebogo’s standing as a rising star in the realm of track and field.
Before van Niekerk’s record, the world-best time was credited to Michael Johnson, who posted a time of 30.85 in 2000, also in Pretoria. Joining the ranks of sprinting legends, Usain Bolt achieved a sub-31 second run with a time of 30.97 in 2010, making Tebogo the fourth athlete to achieve this milestone.
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Tebogo’s dominance was evident during the race as he surged ahead from the starting blocks, establishing a commanding lead around the bend and effortlessly cruising through the home straight. The result was a victory margin of over a second, leaving Gardeo Isaacs (31.91) in second place and Bayapo Ndori (31.95) in third.
This achievement adds to Tebogo’s already impressive resume, having set a world U20 100m record of 9.94 at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon in 2022, subsequently improving it to 9.91 to retain his world U20 title in Cali. Tebogo’s national 100m record now stands at an impressive 9.88, secured during last year’s World Championships in Budapest, where he clinched the silver. Additionally, his 200m best of 19.50, set in London last year, stands as the African record.
Tebogo’s consistent excellence was further highlighted by claiming both world 100m silver and 200m bronze at the World Championships in Budapest. These groundbreaking performances firmly establish him as a force to be reckoned with in the world of sprinting.
In other notable events at the Simbine Curro Classic Shoot-Out in Pretoria on Saturday, South Africa’s Akani Simbine emerged victorious in the 150m with an impressive time of 15.04, adding another layer of excitement to an unforgettable day of athletic achievements.
