21 Apr 2024

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) is happy with the athletes performance at the Kip Keino World Continental Tour Gold that was held in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday.

The association’s vice president, Oabona Theetso said the athletes outdid themselves as some recorded world leading and personal best times, adding that the coaches had seen which areas to improve and fine tune before the Olympic Games in less than 100 days in Paris, France.

“The performance is giving us hope that we will do well at the Olympics,” he adding, adding that registering two sub 45 in 400 metres was good for the relay team.

Local sprinting sensation, Letsile Tebogo and American Lindsey Courtney excited spectators in their 200 metres duel and both clocked 19.71, but Courtney was judged to be first relegating Tebogo to position two.

In 400 metres, Bayapo Ndori clocked a world leading and a personal best time of 44.10 while Leungo Scotch registered a personal best of 44.54 to finish third. Upcoming 400m athlete, Tumo Van Wyk came sixth in over 46 seconds.

In the women’s 400 metres, Obakeng Kaberuka and Galefele Moroko finished fourth and seventh with a time of 52.85 and 53.79 respectively.

In 800 metres, African Games bronze medallist, Tumo Nkape registered a personal best time of 1:45.95 but finished sixth.

Meanwhile, in China, Tshepiso Masalela started his Diamond League campaign on a high note as he clocked a personal best time of 1:43.88 to come third at the Xiamen Diamond League meeting.

Theetso noted that the country now had two 400m athletes with 1: 43.

“We hope their good performance will motivate others to do well in their respective events,” he said. ENDS