16 May 2022

Three 200m sprinters from Jwaneng Athletics Club qualified for World U20 Cali Athletics Championships after running impressive times during the Debswana National Athletics championship held in Francistown over the weekend.

Kevin Lobatlamang won heat two with 21.17 while Lundi Pinaemang clocked 21.11 to win heat three and Collen Kebinatshipi registered a Personal Best time of 20.97 in heat four, which are all qualifying times.

They will be part of the team that will represent the country at the Columbian meet scheduled for August 1-6. The feat did not come as a surprise to their coach Chilume Ntshwarang given the effort they put in their training

He said despite some challenges, the trio made its intensions of qualifying known, as they travelled from Kanye to Lobatse daily for their extensive training, a feat that had paid dividends.

“I am a happy coach as their sacrifice did not go to waste. There are no facilities in Kanye hence we are forced to travel some kilometres daily to Lobatse. Their qualification has demonstrated that hard work and determination always reigns supreme,” he said.

Kebinatshipi, who had already qualified in 400m, said he lined up for the 200m to fine tune his speed, adding that he was not sure whether he would double the events in Cali looking at the congestion of the programme at the World Junior Championships.

“The coach will guide me, but I am happy with my time. I have been working very hard at training, so the results are now showing,” he said.

Lundi and Lobatlamang said they would prepare for the competition without chasing a qualification time.

“We are training partners, as you can see, our heats followed one another, so in a nutshell we motivated each other to hit the qualifying mark, it is now back to training and continue to working very hard,” said Pinaemang.

In other results, Sylvester Koko won the 1  500m with 3:50.59, followed by Tsholofelo Megala with 3:53.52 Montshiwa Okgwathile settled for third position after registering 3:55.63.  The 400m senior women hurdles went to Kebonye Golekanye with 62.45, while Tshiamo Hangani and Chedza Majore clocked 65.54 and 67.64 to claim second and third positions respectively.

Meanwhile Leungo Scotch led the pack in 400m with 45.44 on Sunday.

Some athletics pundits had predicted a sub 45, looking at the start list, which included amongst others, Isaac Makwala, Ditiro Nzamani and Zibani Ngozi.

Makwala dictated the tempo of the race, with Scotch closely guarding him, but in the last 100m, Scotch took the war to the veteran runner to stop the clock at 45.44.  Makwala won a silver medal after recording 45.50, while Keitumetse Maitseo managed to beat Ngozi, Clifton Meshack and Nzamani to win a bronze medal with 45.63

Despite winning the race, scotch said in an interview that he was not happy with his time adding that his objective was to qualify for the World Championships.

“However all is not lost. I will continue to work hard and use the Africa Senior Championships as a yardstick to qualify,” he said.

Another scintillating race was the 200m senior men where Anthony Pesela came with guns blazing registering 20.28. Silver medal went to Bayapo Ndori with 20.85, while upcoming and promising sprinter Jayson Mandoza settled for bronze with 20.97.

National team assistant coach, Dose Mosimanyane expressed delight about Scotch, Pesela, Nzamani and Ngozi performances.

The athletes are under Botswana National Olympic Committee, Olympic Solidarity scholarship.

He said they exceeded his expectations, adding that in their activity plan, they had planned that the first attempt was qualify for the World Championships during the Gaborone International Meet.

“After that, we knew the National Championships will then follow and our aim was to maintain that peak, combining with Africa Senior Championships training,” he said. The coach  said they had started preparations for the Africa Seniors as most athletes had already qualified. He said he was confident that all those who were yet to qualify, would hit the mark there, adding that although it was a daunting task to prepare for Africa Seniors Championships and chasing a qualifying mark at the same time.

In the 200m women, Tsaone Sebele won gold after running 23.29 followed by Loungo Matlhaku and Boitshepiso Kelapile with 23.59 and 24.14 respectively. Kemorena Tisang is the 110m men hurdles champion after clocking14.75, followed by Tshotlego Freky with 14.77 while Joseph Gaetwesepe finished in 15.24 to claim position three. ENDS