12 May 2022

The Debswana Athletics National Championships field events in athletics that will be held at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown from today until Sunday will feature some of the best in the history of the competition.

National U20 athletics coach, Chilume Ntshwarang told BOPA that the code had been neglected for a long time while all the attention was given to track events.

He said the association started to resuscitate the code in recent years, which move saw it producing some of the iconic and stunning performers of all times.

Ntshwarang said as such the competitions would be an event to remember.

Thapelo Monaiwa, Norman Chibane and Tshenolo Manji are some of the iconic figures that will feature in different fields that include long jump, high jump and javelin throw.

Monaiwa competes internationally for Botswana and his latest record is sixth place for men’s long jump at the Gaborone International Meet 2022 while Norman Chibane of Lefhika Athletics Club has a high jump record of 7.98m and has qualified for the Africa Senior Championships.

With a record of 55.39m, Manji is one of the best javelin throwers the country has ever produced and it is expected that he will give his competitors a tough time this time around.

Coach Ntshwarang said having won the national championship four times, Manji was a cut above the rest and with support, he could do wonders.

Shot put women category will see Maun BDF’s Tumelo Ratlhogo, who is a national record holder with a distance of 11.12m competing against Kelebogile Ambrose of Lion’s Den Athletics Club, who has a personal best of 11.02m.

Shot put men U20 will see Friday Brenno of Maun BDF Athletics Club, who has a season’s best of 11.89m locking horns with Atang Maseko of Lefika Athletics Club, who has a season best of 11.57m.

In the same field is also Kaone Malatlhela of New Vision Athletics Club with personal best of 11.08m and African Union Sports Association (AUSA) region five silver medalist, Moatlhodi Johannes of Mmadinare Athletics Club who has a season best of 10.76m.

In the same category for men, Thuto Odumetse of Moroka Athletics Club, who won gold at last year’s AUSA region five is also expected. ENDS