01 Feb 2021

The sixth edition of the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) track and field competition held in Francistown over the weekend failed to produce qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

BAA board member and Northern coordinator, Amogelang Masogae attributed the poor showing to many factors, chief among them, lack of training due to COVID-19, adding that many of the participants were new comers to the completion, hence they were not expected to perform very well in the race.

Masogae explained that they had now pinned their hopes on the next race, which would be held on February 13.  

So far, only four athletes; Amantle Montsho, Nigel Amos, Galefele Moroka and Christinah Botlogetswe have qualified for the Olympic Games.

Masogae further explained that due to COVID-19, preparatory games for the sixth edition were divided into two phases, the first was held in Gaborone on January 23.

Meanwhile, this year’s Francistown competition was a mouthwatering one despite the low turnout and it drew athletes from Maun Defence Force, Francistown Athletics Club (FAC), Zwenshambe Brigade Club (ZBC), Selibe-Phikwe Athletics Club (SPACS), Maun Botswana Defence Force (MBDF) and New Vision Athletics Club (NVAC) from Selibe Phikwe.

The 100m race (senior men) went to Amon Kusekwa of FAC clocking 10.7 followed by Thapelo Mokao of NVAC who clocked 11.4; whilst Ookeditse Letshoo still of NVAC, settled for third with a time of 11.5.

The 100m (junior men) was a ZBC affair as Ookeditse Madibana got first position with a time of 11.46, followed by Poloko Joseph with 11.55 and third position, with a time of 11.78, went to Milidzani Jobe.

The 400m (senior men) was one of the fastest races of the weekend and was won by MBDF. Victor Ntweng, who was a marvel to watch, got first position followed by Larona Mayana while Morekolodi Sarefo settled for third position. On the women’s side in the 100m race, Keneilwe Shabani of ZBC won the race with a time of 14.64, beating her only rival and club mate, Koziba Damu, who clocked 15.56.

Keneilwe Mudongo of the same club, did not turn up for the race.

The 4x400m race saw Team Maun made up of Kabelo Shabani, Bayapo Ndori, Victor Ntweng and Layane Mayang scooping position one at a time of 42.20, whilst second position went to Team FAC made up of Omphemetse Poo, Ofentse Moeti, Zaborone Machaya and Amen Kusekwa with a time of 42.51.

ZBC did not disappoint in this race as they settled for position three with a time of 46.36 comprising Gotaone Dick, Tshepo Willie, Kealeboga Basinyi and Ookeditse Madibana.

The 200m (senior men) went to Kemo Magreen who clocked 22.27, followed by Omphemetse Poo with a time of 22.33, whilst Thapelo Mokao settled for position three with a time of 23.21. ENDS