14 Feb 2016

Shepherd Kenatshele of SSKB Athletics Club and Onneile Dintwe of Sports View produced strong performances to win the National Cross Country Championships senior men and ladies titles on Saturday.

The finals, which included juniors, youth and senior categories, were held under scorching conditions at Gaborone old landfill site.   

Kenatshele, who recently won the Kopong leg of the cross country series, held the lead in the 10 kilometre senior men final from start to finish and ultimately won it in 29:34:17.
The race was expected to be a closely contested affair, but Kenatshele was in the end too strong for his rivals.

Sesebo Matlapeng of Lefika Athletics Club finished in second position with 30:09:17 while his clubmate Rapula Diphoko was third with a time of 30:31:74. Veteran long distance star, Kaelo Mosalagae dropped out of the race in the second lap.
Kenatshele said his triumph was proof that he did not win the Kopong race by fluke.

“The conditions were tough today and the terrain was challenging which made the race very difficult. I was happy with the organisation. It was a great event,” he said.
However, Kenatshele stated that cross country was not his specialty, and that his best event was 800m.

“If I can be given a chance to run the 800m I believe I can qualify for the Olympic Games,” Kenatshele said.

Dintwe cruised to an easy victory in the ladies 10km race after she opened a massive gap between herself and the rest of the field, finishing with a time of 35:19:59. Her winning time was more than three minutes ahead of second placed Mema Tiango of SSKB Athletics Club who clocked 38:29:89.

Veteran Gaborone Runners Club star, Onkemetse Solotate showed that she still has some fight in her legs by moving from fifth place to grab third position in 39:08:05.
Dintwe said she was happy with her performance, adding that “the weather was a challenge, it was too hot. The course was also difficult.”

Winners of the senior categories received gold medals, trophies and P1 000 cash prizes while runner-ups got silver medals and P750 cash prizes. Third place finishers got bronze medals and P500.
Kagiso Kebatshwaretse of Matshekge Senior Secondary School won the eight kilometre junior men category with Nico Modikwe of SSKB second.

Lame Nare of Bobonong JSS won the six kilometre junior women category while Politeness Seane of Matshekge came second.The four kilometre youth boys category was won by Kaboyaone Kwati of Bobonong JSS with a time of 13:07:92 while the girls category was won by Kedumetse Ramokate of Jwaneng Athletics Club. Ends