SOUTH African ace 400m athlete Ofentse Mogawane has been afforded a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete against Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt, the multiple world record holder.
SOUTH African ace 400m athlete Ofentse Mogawane has been afforded a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete against Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt, the multiple world record holder.
Mogawane has been invited by the organisers of the Golden Spike meet to compete with Bolt in a 300m event in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava on May 27.
"I was informed by my agent this week that I have been invited by the organisers to compete, which will be the first time Usain will run in the 300m event," Mogawane said. "For me it's a great opportunity to learn from the best in the world. I'm looking forward to the race.
"It will be my second time competing in the 300m event. I ran the first one in Germany last year, where I finished second. The Ostrava meet will also be part of my preparations for the African Senior Track and Field Championships in Kenya in July.
"The championships will also be used to select the African team for the World Cup," said Mogawane, who doubles up as a development coach at Royal Bafokeng Athletics.
Bolt, who won three Olympic gold medals in Beijing in 2008 and three gold medals at the athletics world championships in Berlin last year, holds world records in the 100m and 200m.
The Jamaican known as "Lightning Bolt" also holds the world record in the 150m and 4x100m relay. The Ostrava event will serve as a test for Bolt before his anticipated switch to 400m.
The celebrated sprinter is on record as saying that he wants to shatter the 300m world record held by American Michael Johnson.
Johnson, who has since retired and is now an athletics commentator, set the record of 30.85 seconds at a meet at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria in 2000.
Mogawane to dice with Usain Bolt
SOUTH African ace 400m athlete Ofentse Mogawane has been afforded a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete against Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt, the multiple world record holder.
SOUTH African ace 400m athlete Ofentse Mogawane has been afforded a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete against Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt, the multiple world record holder.
Mogawane has been invited by the organisers of the Golden Spike meet to compete with Bolt in a 300m event in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava on May 27.
"I was informed by my agent this week that I have been invited by the organisers to compete, which will be the first time Usain will run in the 300m event," Mogawane said. "For me it's a great opportunity to learn from the best in the world. I'm looking forward to the race.
"It will be my second time competing in the 300m event. I ran the first one in Germany last year, where I finished second. The Ostrava meet will also be part of my preparations for the African Senior Track and Field Championships in Kenya in July.
"The championships will also be used to select the African team for the World Cup," said Mogawane, who doubles up as a development coach at Royal Bafokeng Athletics.
Bolt, who won three Olympic gold medals in Beijing in 2008 and three gold medals at the athletics world championships in Berlin last year, holds world records in the 100m and 200m.
The Jamaican known as "Lightning Bolt" also holds the world record in the 150m and 4x100m relay. The Ostrava event will serve as a test for Bolt before his anticipated switch to 400m.
The celebrated sprinter is on record as saying that he wants to shatter the 300m world record held by American Michael Johnson.
Johnson, who has since retired and is now an athletics commentator, set the record of 30.85 seconds at a meet at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria in 2000.
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