22 Apr 2021

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) will send relay teams to the 2021 World Athletics Relays in Poland from May 1.

BAA vice president, Oabona Theetso said he was happy that they managed to send the teams, noting that the objective was to improve their rankings and to qualify for the Olympics.

Theetso said he was confident that they had selected a formidable team that would leave an indelible mark in Poland.

Track and field analyst, Aobakwe Showa said local relay teams were capable to take on other nations.

Most teams, he said, would arrive at the competitions without their season best times due to lack of competitions because of COVID-19 restrictions

He said local athletes were the overwhelming favourites due to the absence of the United States and Jamaica.

However, he said South Africa had five athletes who ran 400 metres under 46 seconds and were favourites for gold  while Botswana and Nigeria had three athletes on sub 46s.

He said other countries that would be vying for the top spot were Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago as well as Belgium.

About the women’s team, Showa said it would be an open race if the Jamaicans decided to pull out.

He said Canada had many athletes on sub 53 seconds which made them overwhelming favourites. He noted that countries such as Germany and Nigeria had proved that they were not pushovers.  

“I believe our female team will be hard done by lack of fitness. Christine Botlogotswe and Galefele Moroko are just recovering from injuries,” he said.

Team Botswana is made up of Isaac Makwala, Lee Eppie, Zibani Ngozi, Boitumelo Masilo, Bayapo Ndori and Leungo Scotch in the 4x400m men’s category.The 4x100m team is made up of Letsile Tebogo,

Karabo Mothibi, Kerapetse Lesotlho, Gaone Maotoanong, Thuto Masasa and Thapelo Monaiwa

The women 4x400m is made up of Tlhompang Basele, Loungo Matlhaku, Oarabile Mokenane, Amantle Montsho, Moroko and Oratile Nnowe.

Botlogetswe, Eppie, Matlhaku, Mokenane, Ndori, Ngozi, Nowe and Karabo Sibanda will represent the country in the 4x400 mixed relay.ENDS