31 Jul 2016

Twenty-year-old Kabo Jenamo of Francistown Club bagged P25 000 and a gold medal after winning the 42.2 km Orange Selebi Phikwe National Marathon on Saturday by clocking 2:30:37.

Ntopo Mopatwa came second after clocking 2:30:46 and took home P15 000 and a silver medal while Bashingili Ndabili came third after clocking 2:30:48 and was awarded P10 000 and a bronze medal. 

In an interview, Jenamo, who is a Form Five student at Francistown Senior Secondary, said it was his first time to compete in the 42.2 km race. 

He said the race was good but tough as his rivals kept him on his pace.

He said besides tough competition from his runner-up Mopatwa and Ndabili on the bronze medal, athletes from Zimbabwe gave him a tough chase for his money. 

He said runners from the northern neighbouring country were stronger than he thought. However, he said due to the mentorship he received from his coach, Moremi Phiri about focus and endurance he managed to win the race.

In the women’s category, Onneile Dintwa of Sports View Club in Kanye won the 42.2km race in 2:49:50 and also took home P25 000 and a gold medal while former Selebi Phikwe National Marathon reigning champion, Tabitha Tsatsa from Zimbabwe came second in 2:52:45 and won a silver medal and P15 000. Badumetse Mantshape came third in 3:00:27 and was awarded P10 000 and a bronze medal.

In an interview after the race, Dintwa like Jenamo, who is the champion in the male category, said it was the first time to participate in the 42.2 km main race. 

She said she felt the route was long and tiring since she had not trained for a month. She said she took part in the race to test herself.

“I initially came here to participate in the 15km race, but when I arrived to register I was told that the targeted number of female athletes to compete in the 15km race was reached, and the only race that had slots available for registration was the 42, 2 km race. 

I made the decision to register for 42.2km in a few minutes to test myself and surprisingly I did well and won the race,” she said.

She also said she was preparing to take part in another marathon sometime in December in Cape Town, South Africa, and is intending to do much better and improve her time at the race.

In the 15km male race, Shephere Kenatshele of SSKB Club came in first  and took home a gold medal and P7 500, Godiraone Nthomphe settled for silver and P5 000 while Sylvester Koko came in third and won a bronze medal and P3 500.

The female category was won by 20-year-old Rudo Mhonderwa from Namibia who was competing for the first time in the Selebi Phikwe Marathon. Mhonderwa won a gold medal and P7 500, followed by Tiango Mema who took home P5 000 and a silver medal while Gosego Mbinda came third and was awarded P3 500 and a bronze medal.

Other races included the 10km race which was won by Lame Nare in the female category, who walked away P5 000 richer and a gold medal followed by Botho Marope with a silver medal and P3 500 while Gofaone Kenaope came third and was awarded a bronze medal and P3 000. 

In the male category, the runners won the same prizes as female competitors. 

Kagi Kebatswaretse came in first followed by Amogelang Gaodumelwe while Ditiro Simon came in third. 

In an interview, Selebi Phikwe deputy town mayor, Molefi Pilane, who participated in the four kilometre fun race, said he was happy with the turn out at the event that marked its 31^st year. 

He said many people as well as government, parastatal and private organisations took part in the event as cheer leaders or as runners. 

He said as the leadership of the mining town, they were working tirelessly to keep Selebi Phikwe vibrant despite the economic challenges the town was facing. 

He said one of the modems they use to keep the town alive is the Selebi Phikwe National Marathon. 

He said the sport also helps to diversify the economy of the town through sport tourism. 

He said sport tourism was growing in the region and that it was giving people hope that all was not lost in Selebi Phikwe. 

Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi officiated at the marathon as well as the Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Nonofo Molefhi, who is also the Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe East. ENDS