09 Feb 2025

 Despite running through an adventurous and newfangled race terrain the athletes intrepidly fared to keep the spectators all standing and cheering from sunrise till sunset on Saturday at Modipane.

About 123 athletes came to partake in the second edition of the 2025 Botswana International Cross-Country (BICC) held at the Glody Dube International School and Sports Academy.

The BICC was the maiden event ever held at this new racing course. Moise Ivan of Seychelles was the one and the only international runner who intermingled with the locals in the 10km Senior men’s race.

Ivan finished on the 11th spot after scoring 34:10. He was awarded a certificate of appreciation by the hosts, the Golden Door Sports Agency directed by former cross-country master Glody Dube, for having sailed across the Indian ocean to come and honour the event.

The first runner to reach the finishing point on the senior men’s 10km category was Mmadinare AC’s (MAC) lackey Oontse Lopang with a record of 31:35 seconded by Matlapeng Sesebo of (LAC) who clocked 31:46.

Kooagile Olefile of University of Botswana (UBAC) came third to register a time of 31:59.
In the senior ladies’ 10km category, the Botswana Defence Force AC’s (BDF AC) athlete Mosadikwena Gotswakgosi hit the finishing line within 39:06 followed by Segolame Olebogeng of MAC who scored an arrival time of 40:45.

On the third spot landed Gaone Bathoeng who registered a time of 40:48. A fiery rivalry was countersigned in the 8km Junior man’s category where the top two scratched shoulders vying to hit the finishing line first.

However, Samuel Lebogang of Selebi Phikwe AC (SPAC) was chosen the lucky man when he narrowly hit the finishing line at 27.46 just before Rebaone Montshiwa of BDF AC clocked 27:50 to claim position two.

The Jwaneng AC’s (JAC) runner arrived at 28:59 to own spot number three.

In the 6km race for the junior category for the women erupted a war for who will finish first as Tebo Mbe of SPAC tapped the finishing line at 26:00 just a second ahead of Gofiwa Mokima of JAC who clocked 26:01.

Another SPAC runner, Lerato Mokima, finished on the third position after registering a time of 27: 41.

The youth boys and girls also brought some hope for continuity in the local athletics frat.
In the youth boys’2km category Thusego Mothaodi of Team Nate was untouchable as he took a lead from the first shot till the end, managing to record 21:33.

On the second spot basked Mponang Bakang of BDF AC who clocked 21:48 followed by his teammate Bosele Maungo with a time of 21:56.

Kebafilwe Motshegwane of BDF AC topped the list of the youth girls’ 2km category after scoring a time of 16:57 whilst her teammate Lone Malema scooped position two after arriving at the finishing point at 17:44.

On the third spot came Mitchell Sebetlela of SPAC at 18:46.

In the mixed relays MAC outclassed the category to claim position one and two clocking 26:32 and 26:35 respectively whilst BDF AC finished third at 27:53.

The top threes for the seniors and juniors’ categories were awarded trophies and prize moneys.

The Director of the Academy Glody Dube said the event was a success despite having no title sponsor, a thing that he suspected could have deterred international athletes to resort to go elsewhere as they doubted the prize moneys this side.

Dube said the hawkers, who were the residents of the host village, have shown some contentment on grounds that they have made a kill with their sales at the BICC.

The head of Local Organizing Committee Tebatso Omphitlhetse said the event was a success worth celebrated thanks to the Modipane leadership as well as the residents.

She also applauded an array of stakeholders for their unwearied support.

She said events of this magnitude are worth to free the kids from idling in the streets but to resort to sporting.

In his welcome remarks, Modipane kgosi, Fanuel Lebekwe said his plead to the Minister of Sports is to speed up the return of school sports as a way of augmenting local sport.

He said achievement in sports was not only based solely on the athletes but through a mutual role taking for each and every one including the government, stakeholders and the public.

He was optimistic that the BICC shall keep on growing to be amongst the world’s best event. ENDS