27 May 2013

Godiraone Mohlomphe was crowned the King of the Hill on May 26 after he reached the hill summit ahead of other athletes.

Although he eventually came second in the overall 15km race, he nonetheless was the happiest as he took a total of P4 000 in prize money and a silver medal.

Rapula Diphoko, the 15km champion took P3 000 prize money and a gold medal while Ndabili Bashingile, came third and earned himself a bronze medal.

In the senior women, Joyce Tau won the race finishing ahead of Onkemetse Selotate and Mariah.

Joyce also won herself P3 000 and a gold medal while Selotate took P2 500 and a silver medal.

Kekganetswe Amantle emerged the winner in junior boys and pocketed P1200 for his efforts while Mmoloki Letebele and Mooketsi Ponathsego finished second and third respectively.

In Junior Girls, Mosa Wadiri finished ahead of her counterparts and she also got herself P1 200 while Neo Galekae and Thamane Tawanda got silver and bronze medals respectively.

For the veterans, Kabo Gasenne finished ahead of Phineus Piet and Thato Mabelebele while the Master’s race was won by Enoch Kegodile.

However, controversy nearly spoilt the party for King of the Hill organizers when a Gaborone Runners Club (GRC) official snatched prize money from a BDF Athletics runner.

The athlete, Mariah Maano was just about to leave the podium after receiving her prize for coming third in the Senior Women race but Ogolotse Chidoda took it from her leaving her with only a bronze medal.

Chidoda said there were issues that needed to be ironed out but his behaviour rubbed the BDF club the wrong way.

Mariah’s coach, Moses Isaiah said it was wrong for the official to snatch the money from the athlete adding such behaviour should not be condoned.

He said there are channels that have to be followed and further, managers from both teams should iron out their differences instead of denying athletes their prize money.

For her part, Mariah said Chidoda, who is GRC’s team manager, wanted to solve an issue that started in February this year.

She said the issue was that she participated in two Cross Country Championships events as a junior athlete but following her attainment of 20 years in January, she ran the last event as a senior and even represented Botswana in Lesotho as a senior woman. 

However, Chidoda said she should not have participated in the last Cross Country Championship as a senior hence she has to return her prize money.

In the end, Isaiah managed to convince Chidoda to return the money saying the athlete should not be denied her prize money but they would continue to work with GRC and if need be the club would pay for her. ENDS