15 Dec 2015

The International Athletics Association Federation (IAAF) has adjusted qualifying standards for about 17 events to ensure that the target for track and field athletes at Rio is reached through qualifications as opposed to other methods.

Initially, the qualifying time for 400 metres women race was 52:00 seconds, but it has since been adjusted to 52:20 seconds.

In other women categories, 800 metres qualification time is adjusted to 2:01.50 minutes from 2:01.00 minutes, while the new qualifying time for high jump will be 1.93 metres from 1.94 metres.

In the men’s category, for an athlete to qualify for 800 metres, he had to record 1:45.80 minutes but the time has now been revised to 1:46.00 minutes. 

IAAF is targeting 48 participants in both 400 and 800 metres, and 32 participants in the field events. 

In an interview, Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho said the revision was based on experience and performance of athletes at the last World Championships in Beijing  earlier this year. 

Serufho said the adjustments meant increased opportunities for Botswana athletes to qualify for the Olympics. 

“A few of the affected disciplines are those we are quite strong in such as 400m, 800m and high jump,” he said. 

He said the fact that Botswana athletes had not been too far off the mark means that with the revision they would even be closer to qualifying.

“Though BNOC has its own standards based on the strategic direction it is pursuing, it might choose to accept the revised qualifying times,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) president, Moses Bantsi, welcomed the revision saying it would give more athletes a chance to qualify.

Bantsi said the intention of IAAF was to have more athletes achieve the standard, adding that the revision would go a long way in benefitting the athletes.

Despite the adjustment, the BAA boss felt the changes would have little effect on qualification of Botswana athletes. He said athletes with times close to qualifications are Lydia Jele with 52:57 seconds and Boitumelo Masilo with 46:74 seconds.

However, athletics coach, Justice Dipeba said if athletes are given support and sent to more competitions before the closing date on July 11, 2016, more women could make it to Rio.

“We have got Lydia who ran 52.57 seconds and Christine Botlogetswe who ran a 53.54 seconds last season.

 They are training well this season and chances are they will improve their times,” he said.

Dipeba said they started their road to Rio in October, adding that Isaac Makwala, Pako Seribe, Gaone Maotoanong and Sakaria Kamberuka are working hard to retain their positions as the core members of the men’s 4x400m relay team which has already qualified for Rio. 

“They know they need to work hard in order to make the team to Rio, we have depth when it comes to men’s 400m, so you need to stay on top of your game in order to make the cut,” he said. 

So far, 800m runner, Nijel Amos, 400m sprinters Isaac Makwala and Onkabetse Nkobolo and 4x400m men’s relay have qualified for Rio Olympics 2016. Ends