03 Oct 2016

 Sir Seretse Khama Barracks (SSKB) athletics club athletes dominated at the annual First National Bank Botswana Nswazwi marathon.

SSKB’s Shepard Kenatshele clocked a time of 1:06:13 to grab the championship in the senior men category against Rapula Diphoko of Lefika athletics club’s time of 1:07:13 who came second on the 21.1 kilometers race.

The two set the pace from the starting point at Sebina post office until towards the end when Kenatshele left Diphoko grasping for air from his dust as he dashed to the finishing line.    

 In the ladies category SSKB’s Mema Tiango clinched the championship as well on time of 1:29:26 to take the P5 000 prize money with Idah Simon who came as an individual athlete coming second on a time of 1:38:39.

In an interview, one of the organisers, Gabriel Bashingi said at the sixth race that because of many races which were part of the golden jubilee celebrations which took place in the past few days prior to their marathon, it is as such that they had fewer athletes taking part in the marathon.

 He nonetheless said they had over 74 athletes taking part in the race which for them is a good number more so that all the four categories they had of senior men and women, junior men and women, veterans and local participants were represented.

In addition, he pointed out that this year they have a good number of veterans taking part and completing the race while at the same time clubs amongst them Francistown, Selebi Phikwe and Gaborone runners clubs sent their athletes for the marathon as well as Bobonong Junior Secondary School.

He however stated that they have had a challenge in the junior category where they have not had consistent athletes taking part and low numbers with this year only 21 registering being 16 men and five ladies compared to a total of 32 of senior men and women. 

They therefore intend to liaise with clubs to always bring along their young athletes so that they can learn from their seniors and even veterans who this year were 10 in total. 

Kenatshele also won himself P5 000. ENDS