Same Botswanas budding sprinter

12 Jun 2024

Until the emergence of Letsile Tebogo, Botswana was struggling to produce a sprinter that can compete on international stages such as World Athletics Championships and Olympics.

The Kanye born lad has, for some time now, been having Batswana bask in the glory of national pride, knowing that wherever he is, so is victory.

As though God had not done enough for Batswana in the sprinting field, here comes, here comes yet another dynamite in the form of Same Mohutsiwa.

This season Same has been dominating the youth category in every meet she competed in, both in 100 and 200 metre dashes.

In fact she has been bettering her times every time she took to track and in some instances dropped a good Personal Best. 

From Jwaneng Athletics Club under the tutelage of Chilume ‘Chippa’ Ntshwarang, Same seems not to be under any pressure to become a world-beater as she takes each race as it comes.

In a recent interview, she said she was aware that the country had never qualified an athlete both in 100 and 200 metres for the major competitions.

“But who knows, maybe our generation will make history. We just have to work hard, remain humble and the rest will come, and Letsile has shown us that it is possible, whoever thought an athlete from Botswana will shake the world in sprints,” she said.

Same, a Form Five pupil at Seepapitso Senior Secondary School in Kanye, said she started running at the age of eight.

Although she qualified for Confederation of School Sport Associations (COSSASA) games while doing Standard Five, she was too young to take part in the tournament of that magnitude.

However, while doing Standard Seven, she managed to compete at the COSSASA games in eSwatini, were she stood in as a 4x100 metres women’s relay reserve.

While she was doing Form Two, she qualified for the AUSC Region 5 Games, but again she was told she was too young.

Last year she managed to compete at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) championships for under 18 and 20 athletes, which was held at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia from April 29-May 3.

“I am looking forward to go to the World Athletics Junior Championships as part of the relay team, and I guess this time my age is okay,” she said.

She said although she doubled 100 and 200 metres, she enjoyed running in 200 metres more because it gave one a chance to express themselves on track.

Like most athletes in Botswana, the 17-year-old Same had wanted to compete in the 400 metre race, but her coach said that her height did not suit the race hence she settled  for 200m.

“But I think I am doing well in both my PB in 100m is 12.09, while in 200m it’s 25.00. The idea is to improve,” she said.

 Same,  who  would be graduating from youth to junior category next year  promised to drop good times since there was a lot of competition up there unlike in the youth category. ENDS

Source : BOPA

Author : Anastacia Sibanda

Location : GABORONE

Event : Interview

Date : 12 Jun 2024