16 Jan 2022

Oarabile Tshosa and Thuto Masasa have qualified for the 22nd African Seniors Athletics Championships slated for Mauritius in June.

The two booked a space at the championships during Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) series in Gaborone on Saturday.

Tshosa clocked Personal Best (PB) time of 23.58 against the set time of 24.0 in 200 metres to qualify for Africa’s showpiece while Masasa qualified with a B standard after stopping the clock with a Personal Best of 21.10.

The 200 metres men’s qualifying time of A standard is 21.0 and 21.24 for B standard.

Tshosa proved she was in it to win when she ran a successful bend.

In the last 100 metres, it was Tshosa against the clock and as she finished the race, she looked at the clock and celebrated knowing she has made it in her first race of the season.

Tshosa said she was happy with her season opener, adding that qualifying for the Africa Championship and clocking a PB was a dream come true.

“I have been away for too long due to injury but after recovery, I worked very hard to make a very strong come back.

I know a lot of people had ruled me out but I am happy I have made a very strong statement,” she said.

Position two in the women’s 200 metres went to Bellindah Lokose with 25.36, followed by Tshepang Manyika with 26.41.

Masasa on one hand said his coach, Ofentse Jele, encouraged him to work hard because he had potential.

He said his qualification did not happen by chance because he had been planning.

He said the plan was to qualify for any competition available so that he could have ample time to prepare for the championship.

Keaitse Moabi clinched position two in the men’s 200 metre race with 21.99, followed by Koorapetse Lesotlho with 22.26 while Mongwa Lungelo claimed position four with a time of 22.93.

In the women’s shoot put, Kelebogile Ambrose finished first after throwing 10.77m followed by Tumelo Ratlhogo with 10.06m while Kaelo Angela finished third with 8.86m.

BAA vice president, Oabona Theetso expressed pleasure at how the competition panned out.

He said most of athletes outdid themselves, despite this being being the first competition of the season. ENDS