20 Mar 2018

Bracket B have defended their Botswana Tertiary Student Sports Association (BOTESSA) athletics national championships, in a competition held at University of Botswana on Saturday.

Bracket B which is made up of universities amongst the University of Botswana, Limkokwing, Botswana International, University of Science and Technology, and Botho made their intension of winning the champions clear when they dominated most of the races.

They won 12 gold,13 silver and 11 bronze. On position two was Bracket A with nine gold, six silver, and seven bronze medals and the bracket is made up of colleges of education institutes of health Sciencse and Botswana Police College.

Bracket C won seven gold, 10 silver and bronze respectively to finish on position three. The bracket is made up of technical colleges and Maun Wildlife institute.

It was Bracket A athlete Thabiso Sekgopi who stole the show winning both 100 and 200 metres and he was also chosen as the best athlete of the competition.

In 100 metres, Sekgopi did not face stiff competition as three athletes were disqualified and he sailed through to the finish line without any hassle with a time of 10.76, followed by Ookeditse Letshoo of Bracket C with 11.43, while Tiyapo Butekelele still of Bracket C with 11.69 . However,his character was fully tested in 200 metres where the line-up was full of crème de la crème of tertiary students.

However, Sekgopi demonstrated that he had good mental strength and he was capable of performing despite pressure from other athletes when he dipped with a time of 21.27 followed by Rebeilwe Thwanyane and Kevin Moyo both from Bracket B with a time of 21.42 and 21.82 respectively.

Sekgopi said he was happy with his performance, adding that despite the fact that in the 100 metres three of his competitors were disqualified for a false start, that did not demoralise him for going all out to claim double in 100 and 200 metres.

He said he enjoyed his 200 metres because there was a tough competition, hence there was a photo finish.

“With such competition it motivates us athletes to go all out, and I would say I won the races because I was focused and I will be going all out to clinch gold during the CUCSA Games,” he said.

Another event that kept the spectators on their toes was high jump where little known 17-year-old Lesang Ngidi won the hearts of spectators when he was pitted against Gobe Takobana and Pilane Mosielele.

However, it was Takobana who emerged victorious with 2.10 metres followed by Ngidi with 1.98 metres, while Mosielele settled for position three with 1.90 metres.

Takobana said he was happy with 2.10 metres jump although he had budgeted to go beyond that. He said his preparation for the championships had been not that very good.

“Lack of proper equipment has cost me. With high jump one has to practice to jump, but when there is no mattress it becomes a big challenge, and currently there is no one who is coaching me,” he said.

He however said given that he had qualified to represent the country at the coming Confederation of University and Colleges Sports Associations (CUCSA) Games to be hosted by Botswana in June he said there should be a training camp for athletes to fully prepare for the competition.

He said his desire is to jump 2.20 or more during the CUCSA Games, adding that could only be achievable with more preparation.

In other events, in 100 metres women T54 Michelle Phalalo of GTC won gold with a time of 18.07 followed by Tsholofelo Bojammeo of GTC with 18.29, while Patience Segokgo of Limko clocked 21.27 to win a bronze medal.ENDS