25 Apr 2018

Commonwealth Games medalists, Isaac Makwala, Amantle Montsho and Baboloki Thebe are expected to headline Gaborone International Meet (GIM) on April 29 at the National Stadium.

Briefing the media on April 24, GIM managing director, Glody Dube said the stars would compete in different events with Thebe and Makwala slating it out in the 200 metres as part of their Doha Diamond League preparation.

“Initially, we did not have the 200 metres (event), but we have created the event for Makwala and Baboloki, you know in this private meets, sometimes we are controlled by athletes, and we can’t run away from it, we need them to come and compete in our meet,” he said.

He however said other athletes such as Christene Botlogetswe, Amantle Montsho, Goitseone Seleka, Galefele Moroko would be running their usual events.

Regarding the international athletes, he said their budget had failed them, given that most of their managers had expected the local organisation to fly and accommodate athletes to Botswana.

He said South African 800-metre runner, Caster Semenya had made it clear that she was busy with college work and again she was preparing for the Doha meet.

The GIM general manager, Kitso Kemoeng said initially the meet was supposed to be held on April 28, but they moved to April 29 to give way to the BDF Day.

“Although we had originally agreed to have the two events on the same day, we changed to give way to adequate preparations on our part and also to accommodate the ongoing broadcast partnership negotiations, which also preferred Sunday,” he said.

The event will start at 10am and different athletes will compete in 100m men and women, including special olympics, 200m men and women, 400m men and women, 800m men only, 1 500m women only, 5 000m men only, 110m hurdles men and women, 3000m steeple chase men only, high jump men only, long jump men only, triple jump women only.

GIM has received entries from Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

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