07 Mar 2016

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, on Sunday, conferred championship medals on Godiraone Nthompe and Gaone Motseolapile.

The duo was triumphant in the Lady Khama Charitable Trust half marathon (Run 21) held in Gaborone on Sunday March 6.

Nthompe and Motseolapile won the 21km male and female races respectively.

The races headlined a fun filled morning of fitness training, competition as well as fund raising.  In clocking 01:09:02, Nthompe outrun Kabo Machuka, who ran 01:14:09 and Karabo Segaetsho, who came in third at 01:42:16.

“I had my own strategy of running this race, but the other front runners began the half marathon at a considerable pace, which forced me to alter my tactics somewhat.  Although I did start at a slower pace in order to conserve energy, I had to keep running slightly faster than I had anticipated in order to keep the front runners within sight,” Nthompe said in an interview.

He said  he considered his performance a marked improvement from last year, when he won the same half marathon, but having taken two more minutes to cover the same distance.

“The race was competitive and thus will act as good preparation for the Diacore Gaborone Marathon,” Nthompe said.

Meanwhile, Lady Khama Charitable Trust Chairman, Dale Te Haar said  the event was a success.

“We are on our fourth year of hosting this event, and it went well, with over 1 800 participants, the highest figure we have had so far, up from about 1 000 last year.  People registered as individuals, families or as part of a corporate team.  We had people who were in pursuit of fitness, and others who are competitive athletes preparing themselves for full marathons.  This is one of the four main events we host in a calendar year in order to raise funds for charity,” Te Haar said.

He expressed gratitude to their sponsors, and the many people who turned up to make the event a success.

Lady Khama Charitable Trust patron, President Khama bestowed medals on winners in the different categories, including the winners of the respective races; Nthompe and Motseolapile in the men and women's 21 kilometre race, Sylvester Koko in the male's 10 km, Mercy Mogotlhwane in the female 10 km, Thabo Modise in the open 10 km and Tanaka Nhundu in the junior female 10 km among others.  Ends