Relay team misses out on qualifiers

Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday June 24, 2023 06:00

The team intended to take advantage of qualifying during the ongoing Kenya National Championships, which was the last opportunity in Africa. The mixed relay team and women’s 4x400m relay team jetted off to Nairobi yesterday. The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) vice president-technical, Kenneth Kikwe told Mmegi Sport that the team did not travel due to logistics challenges. He said the majority of the team members, including Letsile Tebogo and Thapelo Monaiwa are in Europe. Kikwe said if they can get funding, the team would seek qualification in Europe. He said other athletes, Leungo Scotch, Bayapo Ndori, Zibane Ngozi, and Baboloki Thebe who are also engaged in preparations in Europe, could support the team. “Regarding Tebogo, his coach advised that it was impossible for him to travel to Kenya because that will affect his plans. Tebogo is a medal prospect during the World Championships and it is important for him to focus on the preparations,” he said.

Tebogo will run the 100m and 200m in Budapest, Hungary. Kikwe said if the 4x100m men’s relay team books a slot in Budapest, Tebogo would be part of it. He said it was decided that the 4x400m mixed relay and women’s 4x400m relay teams should compete at the Kenya National Championships. The mixed relay team will compete on Saturday morning while the 4x400m women’s relay team will step on the track in the afternoon. He said the idea is to give the women’s team an opportunity to register a fast time. “Individual athletes such as Obakeng Kamberuka, Lydia Jele, and Thomphang Basele are having a good season. We just have to give them a chance to improve their time. With this competition in Kenya, they can do better,” he said.

Kikwe said if they have funding, it will be great if the women can also train in Europe where there is good competition. He said in that way they can be in a better shape for Budapest. Meanwhile, Kikwe said BAA has submitted a P3 million financial proposal for the World Athletics Championships to the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC). He said they are yet to receive a response adding that the commission seemed interested in assisting BAA.

The team: Thomphang Basele, Lydia Jele, Obakeng Kamberuka, Golekanye Chikani, Collen Kebinatshipi, and Laone Ditshetelo.