07 Apr 2022

Bayapo Ndori on April 6 clocked a time of 44.88 in the 400 metre race, at the South Africa Athletics Grand Prix series at McAuthur Stadium in Potchefstroom.

This increases the number of athletes who will represented Botswana at the World Championships pencilled for Oregon on July 15-24.

During the race, it was evident that Ndori had something up his sleeve as he blasted from the block, together with his country man, Leungo Scotch, to fulfill their race plan, which kept their opponents at bay.

The two were so in tune that it did not come as a surprise when Scotch finished in position two, with a time of 45.84.

Position three went Zakiti Nene with a time of 45.98.

In the 200 metres race, young and promising athlete, Letsile Tebogo finished in position two with a time of 20.28, outclassing the world best Akani Sibine, who did not even feature in the top three bracket.

In the 1 500 metres, Tshepiso Masala recorded 1:46.40 to finish in position one, followed by South Africans Jabulane Ncamane and Tumelo Machaba with a time of 1:46.42 and 1:46.75 respectively.

In the women’s 800 race, Oratile Nowe continued Botswana’s good run, as she finished in position two with 2.05.33, while South Africans Predence Sekgosi and Daniele Verster claimed positions one and three with 2.01.89 and 2:05.77 respectively.

In the women’s 200 metres, Nowe, Boitshepo Kelapile and Tsaone Sebele finished in positions four, five and six, clocking times of 23.80, 24.23 and 24.25 respectively.

Victor Ntweng and Keitumetse Maitseo clocked 50.78 and 50.94 to claim positions four and five in the 400-metre hurdles.

Christine Botlogetwe finished in position two in the women’s 400 metre race, with a time of 52.87, while Lydia Jele claimed position five with 53.73, and Tlhompang Basele finished in position seven with 54.16.

Sylvester Koko finished in position two, with a time of 8:21.93 in the 3 000 metres men’s category.

Ditiro Sebele, who shared the track with Africa’s strong athletes amongst them Ferdinand Omanyala and Clarance Munyai finished in position six with 10.55.

Coach Dose Mosimanyane, who travelled with the team, said  in an interview that the athletes did well overall, given that some recorded their Personal Best times.

Talking about Ndori’s scintillating performance, Mosimanyane said the athlete did well, adding that it was their plan to qualify by April, but the Grand Prix race was not in their initial plan.

He said their first attempt was the Road to GIM race that was in Gaborone, then they were going to try at the GIM and ‘our third attempt was going to be at the Africa Senior Champs’.

He said for the race, Ndori had his own plan, which he discussed with Scotch, and it was that they should start at a high note, set the pace from the word go and then from the first 200 metre maintain the gap all the way to meet at the finish line.

 Unfortunately, Scotch pulled a hamstring and could not go with him.

“Nna ne ke reeditse hela ba ntse ba bua gore bone ba ya go iphatlakanya today, together with Zibane and Ditiro.

I didn’t add anything or comment, I just wished them all the best,” he said. ENDs