Collen Kebinatshipi at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship Budapest 26 (© Getty Images)
Botswana’s world champion Collen Kebinatshipi lived up to his status as the 400m favourite, storming to the title at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship Budapest 26 on Saturday (12).
Capping a successful season, the 22-year-old improved his national record yet again as he clocked 43.39 to secure sole ownership of fifth place on the world all-time list.
USA’s Rai Benjamin chased him over the finish line in 44.15 and will turn his attention to the 400m hurdles in Budapest, while Jereem Richards was third in 44.23.
Kebinatshipi lined up in Budapest as the Diamond League champion, fresh off his 43.40 performance in Brussels that moved him to joint fifth on the world all-time list. That was his third Diamond League record of the season after those he set in Paris (43.54) and Monaco (43.44).
He improved again in Budapest – judging his race to perfection to dominate ahead of world and Olympic 400m hurdles champion Benjamin and Richards, who was runner-up to Kebinatshipi in the Diamond League Final.
After his Diamond League win, Kebinatshipi stated his aim to improve on the world lead of 43.38 set by Samuel Ogazi at the NCAA Championships in June. In order to do that, he said, he could not allow himself to relax during the first part of the race.
Kebinatshipi clearly had that in mind as he blazed out of the blocks, starting aggressively and with intent. He remained well clear of his rivals as he eased off the final bend and looked well on his way to victory.
All eyes were on the clock and he stopped it at 43.39 – the race of his life, just 0.01 off the world lead he sought.
Benjamin moved through the field and edged ahead in the closing stages, completing the first part of his Ultimate 400m and 400m hurdles double in 44.15. Richards – running in lane two, the same lane from which he raced to world silver behind Kebinatshipi in Tokyo last year – finished 0.08 back to secure third place ahead of Chris Bailey (44.27) and Matt Hudson-Smith (44.28).
"I'm proud of myself for hanging on from the start of the season to the end of it and with everything I was able to do this year," said Kebinatshipi. "I am usually always sitting back and kicking in the last metres but today I wanted to feel what other athletes were feeling over their races, to tie up a bit in the last metres.
"I was really tired over the last metres but that was what I wanted to do and to feel; I wanted to leave everything here before I head back home."
Jess Whittington for World Athletics
