04 Jul 2016

Botswana 400 metres hurdler, Oarabile Babolayi has completed her studies at Missouri State University, and she is coming back home.

Babolayi who was on a track and field scholarship at Missouri State University has graduated in Psychology, Bachelor of Science with a minor in Bio-Medical Science.

She is the first expert hurdler in the country, given that she dedicated her time in both studying and focusing in hurdlers.

Last year, she was chosen as the best third year -junior track athlete of the year and also clinched MVP athlete of the year; the award given to an athlete who contributed more points at conference championships on the track.

Conversely, national team coach, Justice Dipeba said Oarabile was a very strong athlete and it was going to be good to see her continuing with her hurdling. He said, her event was not very popular in Botswana, therefore she would get frustrated because she would train and not get a chance to compete as they were very few hurdlers in Botswana.

Dipeba said there was a lot involved when it comes to coaching hurdles, the rhythm, running on its own, the legs, leading and trailing, body posture over the barriers.

 “So you can see there is a lot involved in one event, so these need one on one sessions. I know she wants to work with me,” he said.

Babolayi said in an interview that completing her studies had always been her goals, adding that now that she had graduated she was ready to start a new chapter of her life. 

Furthermore, she said being a student athlete was not easy, especially trying to balance both track and good grades.

“I will always cherish the moments I had as a Missouri state Bear, but now I will be moving back to Botswana, giving athletics 100 percent attention and see where my career can take me,” she said.

Babolayi however said it was her dream to qualify for the Olympics, but her main enemy was the injury she sustained this season, and she had just completed her therapy.

She however said she was now healthy and she would be preparing for next season.

She said she was aware that the country was still struggling to produce hurdlers, but she would continue to do the race which according to her was not that difficult.

“I will be focusing on 400m hurdles, and I am pretty sure I will get to do some 400m dash as well.To be honest hurdles is mostly about rhythm, so if I have other 400m runners to train with, I will be fine, I think the coaches do have knowledge about the race. I am sure they would be able to assist,” she said. ENDS