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‘SWAZI BOLT’ IN 200M SEMI-FINALS

11/04/2018 01:05:00 BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO

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MBABANE – The country’s fastest sprinter Sibusiso ‘Swazi Bolt’ Matsenjwa stormed into the 200m semi-finals yesterday in the ongoing XXI Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

Matsenjwa finished fourth on 20:81 seconds while the winner of the race was Leon Redi from Northern Ireland on 20:73 seconds. Matsenjwa was among the second fastest athletes and he qualified for the semi-finals for the first time ever in his career and in the history of the country’s athletics participation in these games.

He will be doing battle today at 11am whereby he will be facing some of the best athletes in the world including South Africa’s Anaso Jobodwane, Jamaica’s Kenroy Anderson, and England’s Zharmel Hughes, among others.
Matsenjwa’s performance has been heroic in the games as he also reached the semi-finals of the 100m on Sunday but did not make it any further. The 200m is his last event in the games that started on April 4.

The 200m national record held by Matsenjwa stands at 20:48 seconds, also his personal best. He and Jobodwane clocked far from their personal best times during heats. Athletics Association of Swaziland (AAS) Secretary Thoba Mazibuko said this was a big achievement for the country.

He said this meant that the country can now start to believe its athletes can achieve a podium finish in high profile competitions including the Commonwealth and Olympics Games.

“He really did well and the country must be proud. In the past, our athletes were knocked out in heats. Now he is competing against the best in the world, which is good,” he said.

Mazibuko said if Matsenjwa could clock his personal best of 20:48 seconds, he can reach the finals.
Meanwhile, Correctional Services’ sprinter Thandaza Zwane, who was also competing in the 200m, finished fifth.

Chef de Mission Pearl Dlamini said Matsenjwa made the country proud and his performance was excellent. He requested the nation to give support to the athletes who were still to compete.

Erika Seyama will compete on Friday in the high jump where she will join in the finals. Cyclists Gcina Banda, Mduduzi Zwane and Muzi Shabangu will be competing on Saturday.