04 Jul 2019

The Botswana athletics team July 4 left for the CAA Southern Region Senior Championships scheduled for Mauritius July 6.

The meet is used for major competitions qualifiers amongst them the World Championships and Olympic Games.

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA)’s Tshepo Kelaotswe said in an interview that they had sent a very committed team to the Indian Ocean Island and the expectation was that some athletes would qualify for major competitions.

“We have a formidable team, both in individual and relay teams, and we have upcoming 4x400m men’s relay team, which I am confident would qualify for major games,” he said.

Furthermore, Kelaotswe said he had an opportunity to watch the team during training adding that all the athletes were in good shape and were looking forward to representing the country tomorrow.

“We will be represented by a very young team and they are very hungry for success. And as BAA, we are confident that they will bring medals home,” he said.

Meanwhile, according to press release from CAA Southern Region 5, the championships come in the background of two championships that were cancelled by the regional body for varying reasons with the latest being the CAA SR Open Championships, which was scheduled for last month at Boksburg Athletics Stadium, Johannesburg in South Africa.

The release says the region has moved forward to offer its athletes needed competition ahead of Qatar and Morocco adding that Mauritius have prepared what promises to be an exciting regional competition.

The Open Championship according to the release, was cancelled after initial hosts, Athletics South Africa, gave notice that their funds had now been redirected to the legal case opposing the IAAF DSD regulations, and towards preparations for the 2019 IAAF World Championships in September (Qatar) and the 2019 All Africa Games (Morocco), which have now been brought forward to August 2019.

Meanwhile, Team Botswana’s ladies team is made up of Tsaone Sebele and Refilwe Murangi in the 100m and 200m.

In 400m, there is Tlhomphang Basele and Motlatsi Rante, while in the 800m there is Oratile Nowe, and Oarabile Babolai will compete in the 100m and 400m hurdles.

Belinda Lekose, Tsaone Sebele, Rose Sanane will compete inthe 4×100m relay while Refilwe Murangi will represent the country with Motlatsi Rante, Oarabile Babolai, Oratile Nowe, and Tlhomphang Basele in the 4×400m.

In the men’s team, there is Keene Motukisi, Thuto Masasa will compete in the 100m, while Leaname Maotonong and Onneile Phokedi will be out of their comfort 400m zone and compete in the 200m race.

All eyes will be on the 400m, which is now perceived as Botswana’s traditional race, to see if Leungo Scotch and Zibani Ngozi will do well.

Boitumelo Masilo and Tshepiso Masalela will compete in the 800m while Kemorena Tisang will compete in both the 110m and 400m hurdles.

Rebeilwe Thwanyane, Keene Motukisi, Thuso Machara and Thuto Masasa will compete in the 4×100m while Ditiro Nzamani, Zibani Ngozi, Onneile Phokedi and Leungo Scotch will compete in the 4×400m.

In the field events, Aobakwe Nkobela and Tshwanelo Aabobe will compete in high jump. Ends