26 Jul 2022

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) has learnt valuable lessons from the just ended World Championships in Oregon.

BAA is optimistic about future competitions based on the Oregon experience.

In an interview, BAA vice president, Oabona Theetso, said his federation was happy with the athletes’ performance.

He cited Tebogo Letsile  whom he said showed growth given that it was the country’s first time to field an athlete in 100 metres.

“It is also a morale booster to his age mates that nothing is impossible. Bayapo Ndori’s performance was also satisfactory because this was his debut at the World Champs. For  him to have proceeded to the final with a PB, is also encouraging.”

Theetso said although Isaac Makwala did not make it to the final, they were also happy for his performance.

Former BAA secretary who was monitoring the competition, Patrick Moesi, said though it was evident that the competition was tough, Botswana went there with high hopes, especially in the 4x400 men’s relay.

“We were hopeful looking at their performance at the Olympic Games, we thought we could possibly build in that performance to get a podium finish at the World Championships,” he said.

Moesi attributed their performance to dropping of baton, adding although the team was reinstated, it was disadvantaged with the lane draw as they were placed on lane one, which was difficult to maneuver. 

Regarding next World Championships billed for Hungary in August 2023, Moesi said it was imperative to expose athletes to international competitions.

“We should take them to Europe early before the championships so that they acclimatise and compete,” he said.

Moesi said for individual athletes, it would be ideal for BAA and clubs to plan competitions so that athletes were able to pick at the right time.

He said with the exception of Ndori and Tebogo most of the athletes had still not reached their peak, prior to the Oregon games.

“Overall, it was a good outing with positives to be picked, amongst the World Junior Record, we were in 400 and 4x400 men’s relay final and next year we must have at least a pool of eight 400 metres strong athletes, so that we pick the strongest team,” he said

Meanwhile BAA had set a target of two medals and prior to the competition, the team suffered a setback when two of their medal prospects Nijel Amos of 800 metres and long jumper Thalosang Tshireletso were provisionally suspended after testing positive result for  banned substances.  ENDS