23 Jan 2017

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) has been struggling to produce long and middle distance runners.

However, the emergence of Lopang Kailane might see Botswana being represented at international competitions in 1 500 and 5 000 metres.

Kailane, who is based in the United States, has been doing well in competitions there.

 He was recently in Kenya to train with top athletes under the watchful eye of coach Mike Kosgei.

He said in an interview that he realised his track potential in 2013 although he did not have a coach, but things turned around in 2015 when he joined his family in USA.

The family, he said, registered him in 5km Resolution, trial race and surprisingly he won it.

He said the  following week he ran in Five mile Cocoa Classic where he finished on position two.

The Maboane born  runner said it was during the five mile Cocoa Classic where he met athletes and coaches from Kenya, who were impressed by how he tackled them in the race.

“The Kenyans then invited me in Kenya to train with them. I then joined them in November. I was there the whole of November and December. Basically I went there to improve my times and become stronger for the college record, so I can get in a better college and run under National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA),” he said.

He said his goal was to break the 1 500m record and  under the guidance of Kosgei, he managed to run , 10km in 32min 32 sec in Kenya .

“I was so proud, that’s what  is keeping me going. And I haven’t represented the country. I once ran in Botswana games, I ran 5 000m but then I was not ready that time for I got fourth place and I also ran half marathon in Maun my time was 1hr 13min 29 sec, that was 2015,” he said.

Kailane, who runs 5 000m, 1 500m, 5km, and 10km, said his mission was to qualify for the  2020 Olympics.

However, BAA secretary, Legojane Kebaitse said they would be monitoring the athlete and could only include him in the national team guided by his times.

He, however, thanked Kailane for realising his dream of running adding that BAA alone could not achieve its mandate without the help of other stakeholders including parents. BOPA