04 Nov 2019

Botswana’s Kefilwe Galeitsewe and South Africa’s Thabang Masiako are the inaugural Guru Nanak International Half Marathon champions, which was held in Gaborone, on November 3.

Galeitsewe won a first prize of P11 000 after clocking 1:27.12 in the female category, followed by Zimbabwean Patience Murowe with 1:31.17, who pocketed P7 000, while position three went to Botswana’s Laone Moloi with 1:35.17, who got P4 000.

In the men’s category, Masiako won the race after running a time of 1:08.47, followed by Botswana’s Godiraone Nthompe with 1:08.57while Kenyan Albert Kangor scooped position three with 1:11.30. They won cash prizes of P11 000, P7 000 and P4 000 respectively.

During the race it was evident that Galeitsewe was eyeing the ultimate prize, and despite facing a fierce challenge from her opponents, she never panicked, but distributed her race well by reserving more energy for the last five kilometres.

In the last kilometre, it was Galeitsewe who led the pack, although she was running under pressure from Murowe.

Galeitsewe said she enjoyed the race, even though she punched after 10km of the race, because all her opponents were running at a higher pace.

“I was going after their steps, hence I dropped as the race progressed.

However, after some few kilometres they then ‘punched’ and I used that as an opportunity to make it to the end,” she said.

For his part, Masiako said he enjoyed the race, given that the water points and the course made his ‘life easy’.

He said he could have clocked a good time, but he was let down by the weather condition, adding that he was not used to hot weather.

“Compared to South Africa, I can say here it is hot, so I was not prepared for this weather condition, but I am happy I managed to finish the race,” he said.Botswana Athletics Association (BAA), vice president Tshepo Kelaotswe thanked the Sikh community (a religious group) in Botswana for organising the road race.

He said the association had always been pleading with different organisations to assist the association in athletics development.

Kelaotswe said he was happy that the Sikh community in Botswana heeded their plea, adding that even their prize money was something to celebrate, as it would motivate the athletes.

The race attracted athletes from as far as Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe.ENDS