26 Aug 2024

GABORONE, AUGUST 26 – Botswana’s 12 athletes will be amongst their peers representing 134 teams in Lima, Peru as the athletics start gun goes off on Tuesday signaling the start of the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships. The team has qualified by right to represent the country in a competition, which is held at the Estadio Atlético de la Villa Deportiva Nacional. Team’s coach, Nico Manyepedza said the team was in good shape to compete with their peers. He said the very young and vibrant team was beaming with confidence and looking forward to hit the track to represent the country. “We have a very good team of 400m runners in which I think they are also capable of surpassing the Kenya and Cali World Juniors performance,” he said. He was hopeful that the 4x400m relay men’s team would bring a medal adding that even the mixed relay team was capable of ascending to the podium, depending on how the girls would run on the day. The completion ends on Saturday. The team is made up of captain, Ernest Kumevu from Francistown Athletics Club and he will be competing in 200m,400m, and 4x400m, Thabang Monngathipa of Jwaneng Athletics Club is will be competing in 400m,4x400m. There is also Keorapetse Oreokame from Francistown Athletics Club who will be competing in 400m, and 4x400m, Seleka Lefatshe from Jwaneng Athletics Club will represent the country in 400m, 4x400m, and 4x400m Mixed, Justice Oratile from Lefika Athletics Club will compete in the, 4x400m and 4x400m Mixed, while Fredrick Mathathi of Mmadinare Athletics Club will compete in the 4x400m and 4x400m Mixed. The women’s team is made up Sethunya Majama of Lefika Athletics Club who will be running in 200m and 4x100m, Same Mhutsiwa of Jwaneng Athletics Club who will be competing in the 4x100m relay. Kelebonye Otela of Maun Track and Field Club will compete in 4x100m relay Ame Bogoma of Centre of School of Excellence (CSE) will be competing in 4x100m,4x400m Mixed relay, Warona Thonisani of Lefika Athletics Club will represent the country in 4x100m, and 4x400m Mixed relay and Wedu Matiwe of Lion’s Den Athletics Club/CSE will compete in 4x100m and 4x400m Mixed. Ends