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 September.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsCapping a hugely 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. The performance saw him extend his record for the most sub-44.00 races in one season to six.Speaking after the Ultimate race where he ran the race of his life, to finish just 0.01 off the world lead he sought, the Botswana ace says after achieving his target in the 400m he will look to move to 200m, conquer the distance, before switching to 800m.Sports PS explains significance of Kenya’s bid to host World Athletics Championships"We have a lot of options going forward. If we achieve what we want to in the 400m, which is running close to the World Record or clocking a 43:00 in the next five years it gives us a window to try another event. Once I accomplish what I want I am looking to move to the 200m, achieve my targets there and still have time to switch to the 800m," he revealed.The 400m world record mark of 43.03 seconds, set by Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa has stood since 14 August 14, 2016, at the Rio Olympic Games, but Kebinatshipi says he is yet to start training for such a mark, despite being on pace by the 300m mark in Budapest on Saturday.##NAJAVA_MECA_9952681##He lined up in Budapest as the Diamond League (DL) 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 DL record of the season after those he set in Paris (43.54) and Monaco (43.44)."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.Despite going quick off the blocks, he says the World Record was not in his mind as he was not fresh, having competed on Friday, further adding that it is a mark he is likely to go for in the next three to five years.Rising Stars coach reveals secret to avoiding youth squad chaos"I am usually always sitting back and kicking in the last metres but 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," he further explained.He heads to the 2027 season 0.36 seconds away from van Niekerk's legendary mark, and fifth all-time, behind Michael Johnson (43.18), Butch Reynolds (43.29), and Samuel Ogazi who clocked this year's World lead (43.38) at the NCAA.##NAJAVA_MECA_9952581##
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