18 Sep 2022

The first edition of Kgosi Malope II marathon attracted Botswana and international athletes.

Speaking during the event in Kanye on Saturday, the organiser, Thabo Ntshinogang, said he was happy that the marathon pulled a good number of athletes and spectators. 

He said the marathon was intended to promote sport tourism in the area.

“People should come to Kanye and enjoy the beauty of the area as well as rich culture. Most of the people would come back to Kanye, not only for the marathon, but coming as tourists” he said. 

Ntshinogang explained that there was no major sporting event in Kanye that the residents could pride themselves with.

Most of the athletes, he said, were happy with the terrain and they highlighted that they would attend annually. 

“They were really impressed by our beautiful landscape, that challenged them and heated the competition,” Ntshinogang added. 

He said the business community could benefit from the event.

“From Friday, most of the guest houses and lodges were fully booked, that is increased business to the area,” he added. 

Ntshinogang said the event also played part toward achieving some of Vision 2036 goals, which encouraged people to take part in sport.  

“Running is part of exercising, therefore those who associate with these kind of events would keep fit,” he added.

He said looking at the delivery of the first edition, they were positive that the marathon would grow yearly, noting that they identified areas that needed to be improved. 

“I promise Batswana that the second edition would be bigger and better,” Ntshinogang said.

The men’s 21.1 kilometres race was won by South African Folavio Sehohle, followed by Sesebo Matlapeng, while Albert Kipngetich from Kenya came third.  

The women’s 21.1 km was won by Kitsiso Joseph, followed by Bokhutso Bakha and Badumetse came third. 

Under women’s 10 kilometers race, Gaone Bathoeng scooped position one, Kefilwe Galeitsewe got position two and Gladys Cheruiyot finished on third position. 

Othusitse Gabolelwe emerged victorious in the men’s 10 kilometers race, followed by Montshiwa Raokgwathile on second position, while Dikgakgamatso Modisagape came third.

For both men and women, position ones walked away with gold medals and P7 000, position twos got silver medals and P5 000 and third positions got bronze medals and P2 500.

Folavio said he was happy to be crowned the winner of the men’s 21.1 kilometres, noting that it was his third win in Botswana. 

He said he trained two times a day, adding that he ran an average of 180 kilometres a week. 

“This is a job to me, I take it seriously as it puts food on my table,” he said. 

Training, he said, was not only physical work, but one also got to be mentally fit to ensure victory, noting that some athletes failed to reach the podium not because they were not physically fit but due to being mentally unfit.

He thanked the organisers for the event, however he appealed to different marathon organisers to stage at least one or two marathons in a month, noting that in order to grow the sport, athletes should have enough competitions. “Having a good number of competitions would push athletes to train daily and regard this as their job,” he added. BOPA