16 Jan 2019

Seven Botswana athletes have qualified for the CAA African U18 (Youth) and U20 (junior) Athletics Championships scheduled for Côte d’Ivoire in April.

Bernard Olesitse  and Ditiro Ndzamani have already booked themselves a 400 meters ticket to Abidjan.

They would be joined by 100 metres runners Oarabile Tshosa, Thuso Masasa and Calvin Bathusi while Phodiso Rampa would compete in the 200 metres.

In the last edition which was hosted by Algeria in 2017, Botswana finished 10th after winning three silver medals and one bronze.

The three silver medals were won by Tumo Nkape in 400 metres, Aobakwe Nkobela in high jump and 4x400m relay made up of Lee Eppie, Tshepiso Masalela, Onneile Phokedi, and Tumo Nkape, while Mooketsi Montshiwa won a bronze in 400m hurdles.

Botswana Athletics Association, (BAA) vice president, Kenneth Kikwe, said they were elated that the seven athletes had already qualified for the championships.

He, however, said they were expecting more athletes to qualify given that the closing date was March, adding that their target was to send at least 20 athletes to Abidjan.

Kikwe said his association was also happy that this time around the country would compete in the women category represented by Tshosa, unlike in the last edition where there was no women representation.

He said his association was still worried that, of the seven who qualified, there was no middle or distance runners.

“Our first competition in our calendar is this month end, and expectation are that more women, middle and distance runners hit the qualifying mark,” he said.

Furthermore, Kikwe said his association had already put in place a budget for all those who had already qualified, adding that their intention was to fully prepare them for the competition, so that while in Abidjan they would leave an indelible mark.

“Our intention is to organize out-of-school camp for those who have qualified and those who are on the verge to qualify, most of them are not school going, therefore we are confident that this will help them a lot,” he said. ENDS