14 May 2017

Isaac Makwala and Christinah Botlogetswe have secured a spot for themselves at the IAAF World Championships scheduled for London in August.
Makwala and Botlogetswe qualified during the Botswana Athletics Association National Championships held at the Francistown Sports Complex on Saturday.
The 400m runner, Makwala, qualified during the three 400m men semi-finals heat with a time of 44:92.
In an interview, Makwala said he went into the weekend race without any pressure because he knew he was going to qualify for London.
“I always run good races around this time of the year; that is May towards July. I am not entirely surprised that I qualified. My aim is to go to London and win a medal. I missed on a medal at the 2015 World Championships, when I came fifth but this time I’m going there to win,” Makwala said.

On the other hand, Botlogetswe qualified during the 400m women’s final with a time of 51:82.
Botlogetswe came second after Amantle Montsho who recorded a time of 51:39. It was an improved time from the one she recorded at the same final, being 52:36.
Galefele Moroko took position three with a time of 53:38.

The 400m men final was a favourite to watch pitting crème dela crème of the 400m athletes.
It comprised the likes of Karabo Sibanda, Isaac Makwala, Sakarea Kamberuka, Gaone Maotoanong, Onkabetse Nkobolo, Omphemetse Poo, Pako Seribe and Omphemetse Mokgadi.
Sibanda easily won the race with a time of 45:21, followed by Laone Maotoanong and Makwala on third position.

In the 100m female final, Lydia Jele beat her competitors by coming top with a time of 11:78, followed by Leungo Matlhaku with 11:90 and Oarabile Tshosa with the time of 12:22.
The 100m men final race was won by Keene Motukise with a time of 10:46, Kago Sebele recorded 10:56 and third position went to Xholane Talane with a time of 10:57.
Rebeilwe Thwanyane was disqualified from the 100m final for a false start.
In the 5 000m women final, Mema Tiango took position one with a time of 16:28:59, followed by Lame Nare with a time of 16:44:11 and Marea Maano with 16:55:81.

The 10 000m men final race was won by Rapula Diphoko with a time of 30:12:74 followed by Kagiso Kebatshwanetse with 30:48:37 and third position went to Kekana Melton recording a time of 31:01:58.
In an interview, Botswana Athletics Association public relations officer, Ipolokeng Ramatshaba stated that the national championship was a platform for athletes to qualify for the IAAF World Championships slated for London in August or the World Youth and World Junior Championships to be held in Kenya and Algeria respectively.
Ramatshaba noted that they had invited clubs from neighbouring countries including Zimbabwe, Lesotho and South African. He said Swaziland could not make it as they were involved in a car accident en-route to Francistown. ENDS