24 Jan 2021

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) inter-zonal competitions held in Gaborone over the weekend helped to sharpen athletes. 

The competition, which was part of preparations for the Olympic qualifiers, featured athletes and officials from the southern part of the country because of COVID-19 restrictions. 

Closely contested senior women 200-metre race was won by Tsaone Sebele with 24.17 seconds, followed by Lions dean athletics club (LDAC) duo of Oarabile Tshosa with 25.16 seconds and Nancy Budzani (26.97). 

University of Botswana Athletics Club’s (UBAC) Lone Madzimule won the 200-metre junior women race in 26.59 seconds, while second position went to Warona Thonisani with 27.25 seconds and Golekanye Chikani got position three with 27.78 seconds; both from Lefhika Athletics Club (LAC). 

Thabiso Sekgopi of Moroka Athletics Club (MRAC) scooped position one in 200-metre senior men race with 21.68 seconds, followed by LDAC’s Karabo Mothibi with 21.97 seconds. Thabo Molapo also from LDAC finished in position three with 22.05 seconds. Letsile Tebogo of LAC got position one in 200 metres junior men race while Godiraone of Good Hope club finished in second position at 22.29 seconds and Boago Mabulane of LAC got position two with 22.44 seconds. 

In 100 metre senior men race, LDAC’s duo Thabo Molapo and Pako Seribe got position one and two at 10.87 and 11.01 seconds respectively. 

Bonang Nanogang of Jwaneng Athletics Club got position three with 11.15 seconds. 

Senior national team member, Zibane Ngozi, scooped position one with 47.48 seconds in 400 metre senior men race, followed by another national team member Leungo Scotch with 47.56 seconds while Cliffton Meshack of UBAC got position three at 48.76 seconds. 

Sesebo Matlapeng of LAC got position one registering 31 minutes, 12.74 seconds in 10.000 meter men race. Karabo Teko finished second at 34 minutes, 18.47 seconds while Tefo Mereyabo of Molepolole College finished in third with 35 minutes, 49.23 seconds. 

In an interview, BAA vice president, Oabona Theetso, said they were impressed with the turnout of athletes even though some seasoned athletes such as Isaac Makwala and Nigel Amos were not present. 

He said they were happy with athletes performances because beginning of the year was used to condition them, adding that performances would improve and that most of them would start to qualify for Olympics around March and April. 

Theetso highlighted that their hope was for all the 18 athletes in camp to qualify for Tokyo Olympics. 

He said the association was happy for the return of some athletes who had been out of action for a while such as Karabo Sibanda who last competed in 2018. 

Tsaone Sebele, he said, had been out because of recurring injury and performed well. 

Sebele indicated that she was happy with her performance even though she did not run the qualifying time. 

“I hope to improve as time goes on and I believe I would eventually qualify for Olympics,” she said. Sebele said she would use the first race experience to rectify her mistakes. 

For his part, Sekgopi indicated that the long break was a draw back for him, but had to use every time he had to work hard. 

He indicated that lack of training facilities where he stayed was also a setback since he just had to train along the road.

However, Sekgopi said this was his fastest time ever during beginning of the season. “The idea now is to improve my time and eventually qualify for Tokyo Olympics,” he added. Ends