Relay team hunts elusive gold
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday May 4, 2024 06:01
The competition, which will be on Saturday and Sunday, is a crucial Olympic qualifier for the world’s top-performing athletes from more than 40 countries.
Botswana has sent three teams; the men’s 4x400m, which is ranked number seven, the 4x400m, mixed relay team ranked number 13, and the women’s 4x400m relay team which is at number 20. During the 2015 edition of the relays hosted in The Bahamas, the 4x400m men’s team finished in position eight and qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympics, while in 2017, still in The Bahamas, the team scooped a silver medal.
The team brought a bronze medal from the 2021 relays held in Poland booking themselves a slot at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The only medal missing from their cabinet is gold. The team is boosted by the presence of experienced athlete Isaac Makwala. Speaking to MmegiSport, head coach, Justice Dipeba said the team is looking good and he believes they will do well.
He said the presence of Makwala is not only exciting but an honour to the young athletes in the team as they look up to him. For his part, athletics coach, Nico ‘Keita’ Manyepedza, said the team looks ready for the competition. “The brutal part will be when the starting line-up will be selected according to the past or history. With the women’s 4x400m team, we are there for exposure. [The] Mixed relay team also has a good chance of going further in the competition,” he said. Manyepedza said it is unfortunate that the 4x100m relay team failed to qualify for the competition. “We have a problem with organising as a country and we have to be intentional if we want results. We should target athletes that we feel can make the 4x100m and be intentional about it. If it means full support, let it be, coaches alone will not manage such demands,” he said.
Manyepedza said the choice of athlete for the team is key. He added that even if this means taking the team to international competitions where they can be groomed mentally for competition. The top 14 teams in each event at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 will automatically qualify for places at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The remaining two places in each discipline will be awarded based on top lists during the qualification period which is between December 31, 2022, to June 30, 2024. The top eight teams in each event will be awarded the following prize money: gold: $40,000; silver: $20,000; bronze: $10,000; Position Four: $8,000; Position Five: $6,000; Position Six: $4,00; Position Seven: $3,000; and Position Eight: $2,000. If a team breaks a world record, a prizemoney of $50,000 will be awarded, subject to record ratification.
The Botswana teams Men: Bayapo Ndori, Letsile Tebogo, Leungo Scotch, Busang Collen Kebinatshipi, Anthony Pesela, Tumo Stagato van Wyk, Boitumelo Masilo, and Makwala. Women: Lydia Jele, Obakeng Kamberuka, Galefele Moroko, Christine Botlogetswe, Kennekae Batisani, Nancy Budzani, Motlatsi Rante, and Refilwe Murangi.