American sprint great weighs in on Letsile Tebogo's loss to Lindsey Courtney at Kip Keino Classic

Photo || Chris Omollo

American sprint great weighs in on Letsile Tebogo's loss to Lindsey Courtney at Kip Keino Classic

Mark Kinyanjui 09:55 - 21.04.2024

Michael Johnson has analysed Letsile Tebogo's upset against America's Lindsey Courtney in 200m race at Kip Keino Classic.

American sprint legend Michael Johnson has weighed in on Letsile Tebogo's surprising second-place finish in the 200m race at the fifth Kip Keino Classic held at Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday.

Tebogo, who was considered a strong favourite, was narrowly defeated by America's Lindsey Courtney, who set the world-leading time for 2024 with an impressive 19.71 seconds.

 Despite both athletes recording the same times, it was Courtney who crossed the finish line first, stunning many spectators and experts alike.

Johnson believes Tebogo may have underestimated his competition, leading to his unexpected defeat.

“Letsile probably learned a lesson today. Never underestimate the competition and run the whole race,” Johnson commented on his X page.

“He thought he could take it easy on the curve and run Courtney down on the straight.”

Johnson also praised Courtney for his impeccable technique, particularly his execution of the turn leading into the homestretch.

“Excellent timing on the lean from Courtney. And the presence of mind to sense Letsile coming back,” Johnson added.

Tebogo, a world 100m silver medallist, has recently been on an impressive record-breaking streak. 

He set a personal best of 44.29 seconds in the 400m event in Pretoria earlier this year and shattered the 300m world record in February with a remarkable time of 30.69 seconds at the Simbine Curro Classic.

Who is Lindsey Courtney?

Lindsey Courtney made his mark on the track representing Texas Tech University in 2023. He achieved notable success at the NCAA Outdoor Championship, recording a personal best time of 9.89 seconds in the 100m final and 19.86 seconds in the 200m race, despite his 4x100m relay team's disqualification.

Courtney further showcased his talent at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, advancing to the semi-finals in the 100m and clinching third place in the 200m with a time of 19.85 seconds, outpacing renowned athletes like Fred Kerley and Christian Coleman.

His international debut came at a Diamond League event in Monaco in July 2023, where he finished seventh in the 100m. Courtney was also selected to represent the American team at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, narrowly missing the 200m final by one hundredth of a second with a semi-final time of 20.22 seconds.

In 2024, Courtney continued to impress, earning a spot on the American team for the World Athletics Relays in Nassau, Bahamas, further solidifying his growing presence and potential in the world of track and field.

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