05 May 2026

The newly refurbished National Stadium track is quickly earning a reputation as one of the world’s premier fast tracks and joins elite venues like Hayward Field at the University of Oregon and Monaco’s Stade Louis II.

This follows the transformation of the National Stadium’s track to more than just a renovation of rubber and lane markings by local firm BWX Links (Pty) Ltd in association with Athletics Track SA, with technical oversight provided by ADR Consultants under the representation of Engineer Floyd Mogapi.

The refurbishment involved high-level engineering to meet strict World Athletics standards, including a sophisticated drainage system that clears water within 20 minutes of rainfall. Beyond the infrastructure, the track surface itself was meticulously crafted using a base of Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR) from South Africa and a final layer of Kencoat material from Turkey. Notably, a broadcasting method was used for the final layer instead of traditional spraying to ensure a superior finish.

The stadium’s debut during the Debswana World Athletics Relays proved its speed immediately, as three World Records were shattered within just 48 hours in the 4x100m mixed relays. The 4x400m finals further solidified this status, with Botswana taking gold in an African and Championship Record time of 2:54.47. The event was a success for international visitors as well, with athletes from countries like Zimbabwe and Switzerland returning home with new National Records.

Historically, the athletics world has looked to Monaco for record-breaking performances, such as Beatrice Chepkoech’s 3 000m steeplechase world record in 2018 and Joshua Cheptegei’s 5 000m world record in 2020.

Botswana is now entering that same conversation. Early signs of the track’s potential were evident during the Botswana Golden Grand Prix, where Olympic champion Gabby Thomas broke the 11-second barrier for the first time with a 10.95 personal best.

This was followed by Collen Kebinatshipi’s incredible performance at the Orange Botswana National Championships, where he clocked a world-leading 9.89 seconds in both the heats and the finals.

Because athletes prioritise fast tracks to secure Olympic and World Championship qualifying marks, the Botswana Athletics Association is now in a prime position. By hosting more events during qualification windows, Botswana can expect to attract top-tier international athletes who are willing to travel at their own expense for a chance to compete on one of the world’s fastest surfaces. ENDS