17 Nov 2025

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) chief executive officer, Mabua Mabua has expressed confidence that Botswana’s long-distance runners have the potential to bring home international honours.

However, he said the country had previously failed to send athletes to international cross-country competitions due to budgetary constraints, 

Mabua was speaking at the National Cross-Country Championships at the Macheke Riverbank SC Grounds in Kopong on Saturday, where 145 athletes battled for slots in Team Botswana.

The association used the meet as qualifier for the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships to be held at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, California, USA in January next year.

He said, with budget permitting, BAA wished to send a team consisting of four males and females to the World Athletics Cross Country meet.  He said deadline for submission of the team was set for end of this month. 

He said it was time that the association striked a balance between the highly celebrated track and field events and the cross-country discipline.

Furthermore, he said the association was ‘taking the bull by its horns’ this year, investing in proper timing equipment aligned with World Athletics standards in order to prepare local athletes for international competitions.

Despite the soaked terrain following early-morning rains, the championships proceeded smoothly without any further showers, as in the senior men category (10km) Lopang Oontse of Mmadinare Athletics Club (MAC) clinched first place in 31:22, earning P3,000, while Sesebo Matlapeng of Lefika Athletics Club followed in 32:48 and won P2,000, while MAC’s Kagiso Kebatshwaretswe came third with a time of 32:51 taking home P1,000.

BDF Athletics Club (BDF AC) dominated the senior women category(10km), with Gaone Bathoeng winning comfortably in 37:30. Her teammate, Mosadikwena Gotswakgosi came second in 38:14, while Kefilwe Galeitsewe of Lions Den Athletics Club settled for third position with a 39:56 finish. The winners were awarded similarly to their male counterparts. 

In the Under-20 Junior Men (8km) category, Thusego Moatlhodi of Nurturing Athletic Excellency took first position in 23:28, earning P1,500, while BDF AC’s Bakang Mponang came second in 24:11 for P1,000 and MAC’s Lebogang Magabu finished third in 24:45 to collect P900.

In the Under-20 Junior Women (6km) category, BDF AC’s Kebafilwe Matshegwane topped the category with a time of 21:36 to secure P1,500. SPAC’s Tebo Mbe followed in 22:31 for P1,000, with BDF AC’s Yarona Ramoleele finishing third in 22:53 to take home P900.

In Under-18 Youth Boys (6km) category Mooketsi Galekae of SPAC emerged champion in 19:07 to claim P1,000. Loago Seboke of Kopong CJSS finished a second later (19:08) to earn P900, while SPAC’s Atang Moagabo recorded 19:10 to pocket P800.

In Under-18 Youth Girls (4km) category BDF AC’s Lone Malema won in 15:26, taking home P1,000. Teammate Lungile Metseyabangwe secured second place in 17:04 (P900), and Mpho Maano of Kopong settled for third in 17:05 (P800).

South-Central Regional Chairperson, Tebatso Omphitlhetse, said the championships also featured athletes living with disabilities, who were awarded in the same manner as other competitors. ENDS