29 Jul 2019

Sylvester Koko of Sports View Runners Club, is the champion of the Integrity Run 10km race clocking 28:23 in Gaborone on July 28.

Koko dominated the race from start without showing any signs of fatigue.

Despite pressure from Rapula Diphoko and Sesebo Matlapeng, he executed his plan well, leaving his opponents to fight for second and third spots respectively.

Diphoko finished on position two with 28:57 while Matlapeng settled for position three with 29:02.

Koko said he was happy to have run under 29 minutes, a feat made possible by his competitors who pushed him to record a better time. “I am preparing for next season and my intention is to qualify for Tokyo 2020 Olympics,” he said.

Meanwhile, in the junior female category, Bobonong JSS pupil, Diteko Kethomphilwe was crowned champion after stopping the clock at 35:44. Second position went to Olebogeng Segolame with 35:45 while Lame Nare scooped position three with 37:41.

Kethompilwe said she enjoyed the race though it was short adding that she could not fully unleash her potential on the course.

“I enjoy running 21km, but I will continue working very hard because my ultimate goal is to represent the country in major competitions one day,” she said.

In the 10km open female category, Mema Tiango finished first with 36:14, position two went to Onkemetse Solotate with 38:14 while Bokang Mathuru finished third with 46:00.

The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) director general, Brigadier Joseph Mathambo, who was the chief runner, said working together with civil society to promote integrity was the way to go in the fight against corruption.

DCEC mandate, he said, was to fight corruption and such, could not be achieved without the non-state actors like Botswana Centre for Public Integrity.

He added that building, sustaining good governance and integrity required ongoing attention and efforts.

Stakeholders he said, should be cognisant of the fact that they each had a role to play to promote integrity.

“I ran today for development, for the vision of this great nation, for governance and I was not alone in this run, you were with me throughout the Integrity Run, and I would like to urge all of you to stay with us in this fight. Ends