23 Feb 2016

The 2016 Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) calendar of events started on a high note in Molepolole over the weekend to prepare athletes for national championships and other major events.

Star athletes used the event to ready themselves for big events like the Olympics to be held in Rio De Janairo in Brazil this year and the African Championships scheduled for Durban.

However some  athletes have already booked their place to make team Botswana at Rio and these include  800m Olympic silver medalist and also Diamond League champion Nigel Amos, 400m African champion Isaac Makwala, 400m bronze All Africa games Bronze medalist Onkabetse Nkobolo and 4x4 relay men composed of Isaac Makwala, Zachariah Kamberuka, Leaname Maotoanong and Pako Seribe.

BAA public relations officer Roland Masalila said other athletes were yet to qualify including Lydia Jele whom he hoped will make it around June, while Karabo Sibanda was likely to make part of the 4x4 relay men team as a reserve if he could beat the qualifying time of 45.40 seconds.

Masalila also highlighted that senior athletes were on full time camp while Onkabetse Nkobolo was training in Spain.

Commenting on his performance on Saturday after he came first in the 100m senior men final, Isaac Makwala said the 10:29 time was not his best performance, nevertheless he said the race has given him an opportunity to practice on speed.

For his part Karabo Sibanda stated that his training was going well even though his fitness level was not satisfactory at the moment. 

He said even though the 47:65 time he ran was not bad, he had expected to clock 46:90 seconds. The Olympics would be Sibanda’s biggest stage if he qualifies.

Lydia Jele came first in the 100m senior women final clocking 11:54. She also said that she was happy with her time in preparation for the 400m qualifiers.

Meanwhile 800m runner Shephered Kenatshele of SSKB club complained about the selections criteria of BAA. He came first in the 800m Senior Men final with 1:52 seconds.

The track and field event attracted athletes from various clubs and school to prepare them for the upcoming national championships billed for April 16 as well as Durban June Africa Championships and the Olympics. Ends