22 Aug 2019

Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Athletics Club will host the second edition of Mogoditshane half marathon on Sunday. The marathon would have three categories of 21, 10 and five kilometres. A fierce battle is expected in the 21-kilometre race, which has attracted elite athletes such as Rapula Diphoko, Sylvester Koko, Godiraone Nthompe and the defending champion, Amantle Kekganetswe.

In the last edition, Kekganetswe won the race with a time of 1:07:24, while second position went to Diphoko with 1:07:42. In the women’s category, the 21-kilometre crown was won by Onneile Dintwe with a time of 1:23:50, while Mema Tiango occupied the second spot with 1:27:31. Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday, BDF Athletics Club chairperson, Major Edward Joseph, said the marathon was organised in accordance with IAAF rules and regulations.

He said the club found it useful to organise the half marathon every year so as to empower and engage Mogoditshane youth.

He said they had targeted 1 000 runners, but so far only 800 had registered, a number that  he said was better compared to last year.“As you know, running is a physical activity and we are doing it in such a way that we might attract more youth to engage in social running and also to promote them to run in the category of elite runners in future,” he said.

Major Joseph said they also wanted to showcase what they had in terms of administration of a road race, adding that BDF Athletics Club was of the view that it had capability to hold an event that could fulfill all the standards and requirements.

The marathon will be sponsored by Hollard, Kamoso, AON, O3, Diacore Gaborone Marathon, Mascom, Pie city, Alpha Direct, Molapo Motors, Bokamoso Printers, Impression House, Staywell and Excavator Hire. ENDS