24 Jul 2019

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) has sent relay teams to the Bahamas Association of Athletic Association National Championships billed for July 28-29 in Grand Bahama.

The association made amends after making headlines for failing to send the  4x400 metres men’s relay team to Yokohama in May. 

Top Bahamas athletes are expected to compete at this month’s championships.

The teams would have their eyes on the IAAF World Championship scheduled for Doha in September.

Clocking of good times would qualify the teams for the Doha championships.

BAA vice president administration, Oabona Theetso, said in an interview that the association found it prudent to send the team to Bahamas in a quest to surge forward after missing the Yokahama relays.

He said the men’s 4x400 metres team was made up of Baboloki Thebe, Onkabetse Nkobolo, Zibani Ngozi, Leungo Scotch and Boitumelo Masilo, while the women’s team comprises of Amantle Montsho, Loungo Matlhaku, Oarabile Babolayi, Galefele Moroko and Oratile Nowe.

He said they were confident that they had selected athletes who were hungry and would therefore leave a mark at Grand Bahama.

Theetso,  however, said when selecting  their teams, they considered athletes’ performance, adding that they picked Amantle Montsho due to her experience. She is yet to run a race this season because of her experience.

“We have a women relay team and at the same time we have to admit that it is not in the right level. We had planned that Christine Botlogetswe will go with the team, but unfortunately she is in the country nursing an injury,” he said.

He said missing the world relays would forever haunt their office, given that the relay team could have qualified and this time they could be preparing for the main competition.

However, he said all the athletes were cognizant of the fact that they would need to run a better time so that they could make the cut.

Meanwhile, IAAF stated that relay teams could qualify in one of two ways; the first eight (12 in the mixed 4x400m) placed teams at the IAAF World Relays or be one of the best ranked teams at the end of the qualification period to fill the remaining places (eight or four). 

For the purpose of being ranked, the results of relay races shall be valid only on condition that they would be part of a competition staged in compliance with IAAF Rules and  that  at  least  two  different  international  teams,  representing  at   least  two countries, compete in the race. Ends