04 Apr 2017

With less than 20 days remaining before the  IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas to be staged at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium in Nassau, the Botswana Athletics Association has vowed to send a formidable team to represent the country.

A lot will be at stake given that all the teams that finish in the top 8 bracket automatically qualify for the World Championships to be hosted in London in August.

In 2015, Botswana’s 4x400 metres men’s relay team qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games after finishing on position eight.

Position one went to the USA followed by the hosts, Bahamas, Belgium settled for position four, Jamaica  took position four, position five went to Brazil, Great Britain and Northern Ireland  took position six and  Trinidad and Tobago finished on seven.

Botswana Athletics Association vice president, Kenneth Kikwe said this year their mission was to end USA dominance in the 4x400 metres relay despite the scrappy preparations.

“If you recall well we have not been preparing well because people were thin or the ground, but now that BAA has elected a leadership expectations are that the team will leave four days before the main competition so that they can have two days rest and train the remaining days,” he said.

Kikwe said the idea was that the athletes should have a small camp in Bahamas in order to give them time to prepare before the competitions.

He said they were currently finalising the teams, adding that they would also be the mixed relay which would comprise of men and women 4x400 metres women and men’s relay.

The relay teams, he said, were selected looking at the athletes performance.

He added that as the BAA they have no doubt that the pool of athletes they would send to Bahamas would hoist the national flag high.

“Our squad is made up of credible athletes, we were looking at their times, therefore there was no favouritism, as all those who managed to clock good times would be part of the team,” he said.

Meanwhile, in 400 metres, Baboloki Thebe is the current leading athlete in the world with 44:89, Karabo Sibanda is on position two with 45:07, Boitumelo Masilo is on position 10 with a time of 45:69, Isaac Makwala is on position 12 with 45:75 and Onkabetse Nkobolo is on position 14 with 45:81. ENDS