11 Apr 2016

Botswana’s 400 metres runner, Lydia Jele, is the first woman in athletics to qualify for the Olympic Games.

Jele clocked 51:50 in Botswana Athletics Association track and field meet at the National Stadium on Sunday.

Olympic qualifying mark for Women 400 metres is 52:20. It was clear during the race that Jele had one thing in mind; booking herself a ticket to Rio de Janeiro in August, as she blasted from the blocks and negotiated the curves well. 

On position two was Christine Botlogetswe, who clocked 52:59, position three went to Goitseone Seleka recording 53:30 while Leungo Matlhaku finished on position four clocking 54:65.

Jele said after the race that she was happy to have finally qualified for the Olympics.

She said although she took long to hit the qualifying mark, she was confident that she would make it to Rio.

“If you have been following my race, you will remember that I have been running 52.70, yes, I knew I was near qualifications, she said.

 Jele said she managed to smash the qualifying mark, because she started well from the blocks, maintained the speed and then kicked very hard towards the finish line.

BAA president, Moses Bantsi said his organisation was excited about Lydia’s qualification, adding they had now moved from sending athletes by wild cards.

Bantsi said they were still hopeful that other women would also qualify for Rio, adding that they had resorted to holding a series of competitions to give their athletes opportunity to qualify.

Former BAA secretary general, Patrick Moesi who witnessed the race said the competition was better organised and well attended by athletes. 

He said athletes gave a very good account of themselves and performed beyond expectations, adding that the fact that Lydia qualified, showed that with more competitions athletes could qualify.  

“Our athletes are really eager to qualify for the Olympics this year and it has been their mission to qualify but only frequent competition opportunities will make them realise their dreams, “he said.

Another interesting race was 400 metres men in which Baboloki Thebe easily won with 45:38, followed by Zacharia Kamberuka with 46:09 and on position three was Boitumelo Masilo with 46:37. 

Meanwhile, the Maldives athletes also managed to set new national records, the athletes are in Botswana preparing for the 2020 Olympics and will be in Botswana for eight weeks.

In 100 metres, Ahmed Annof recorded a national record of 11:99 and recorded 22:59 in 200 metres and the Maldives relay quartet managed to win medley relay recording 2:02.33. Ends