07 Jan 2016

Following a long rest during the festive season, long distance runners will on Saturday raise adrenaline levels as they participate in the first cross country series of the 2016 season in Mogoditshane.

The weekend meet is part of the three series that serve as qualification for the cross country final billed for February 13.

Mogoditshane trails and bushes are is in for a shakeup as the Southern titans clash to claim supremacy in the most competitive 10km senior men race.

With the International Athletics Associations Federations (IAAF) having amended the cross country rules and requirements, the senior women will relinquish the 8km and now match the senior men in the 10km.

As for the senior men category, 2km has been scrapped off from the 12km and they will now be tackling a shorter 10km.

There are no changes in the junior men and junior women as they will be taking in the 8km and 6km respectively.

Sparks are expected to fly in the senior men category from Godiraone Nthompe and Boiphemelo Selagaboy of BDF Athletics Club, Lefika Athletics Club’s Kaelo Mosalagae also defending champion, Rapula Diphoko and Sesebo Matlapeng.

Familiar faces to look out for in the senior women category are defending champion, Onneile Dintwe of Sports View, BDF’s Marea Maano and Mema Tiango, Onkemetse Solotate and Joyce Tau of Gaborone Runners Club. 

In an interview, BAA vice president Glody Dube stated that every weekend of January, BAA will have a cross country event so that they align themselves to the IAAF calendar.

He said the new race structures came about at the IAAF general assembly which he said is part of the IAAF strategy towards infusing cross country into the Olympics.

Dube said another factor that led them to start the series late was the fact that codes froze all their events last year in preparation for Botswana Games.

He said the fact that athletes will be competing every weekend will challenge them to be even more competitive. Ends