07 Aug 2022

South African marathoner, Flavio Sehohle and BDF Athletics Club’s Gaone Bathoeng were crowned 21.1km champions at the Palapye half marathon on Saturday.

Kitso Joseph repeated her teammate Bathoeng’s feat by clinching the title in women’s 10km race while Montshiwa Raokgwathile of Orapa Runners club set himself apart in the men’s race.

Bella’s club runner, Sehohle and Bathoeng, both pocketed P6 000 while Joseph and Raokgwathile bagged P3 000 each.

Godiraone Nthompe of BDF finished second in men’s 21.1 to pocket P4 000 while a non-club member Kefilwe Galeitsiwe pocketed P4 000 for finishing in second place in the women’s 21.1km.

Kenyan runner, Albert Kangor and Kenewang Segolame of Spark club of Bobonong pocketed P3 000 each for finishing in third place in 21.1km.

Meanwhile, Othusitse Gabolelwe walked away with P2 000 after finishing second in men’s 10km.

Olebogeng Segolame of Spark club settled for P2 000 for finishing in second place in women’s 10km.

A runner from the village Bakang Matlho pocketed P1 000 after finishing third in men’s 10km while BDF’s Boikhutso Bakha bagged P2 000 for finishing in third place.

 Officiating at the event, Morupule Coal Mine general manager, Edwin Elias, said the marathon served as one of fitness events that impacted on the lives of Batswana socially and economically.

Elias said Palapye half marathon had placed community development and promotion of health, mental and physical fitness in the fore front.

He said the marathon had improved  lives at Palapye Junior Secondary schools as well as surrounding villages with donation of toiletries and food hampers.  

He said the race had seen younger participants being regulars for numerous benefits including prize money.

 Elias appealed to all especially corporates to continue in the same spirit of partnering with Palapye Half Marathon.

He also urged half marathon organisers to continue to deliver a world standard race to attract a sizeable audience.  

Rise director, Moagi Rahube, said Palapye half marathon was a community event, which was initiated in 2016 with the primary objective of rising funds to set up a centre that would serve to create hope and offer a shelter to the vulnerable children, and also those who lost their parents.

Rahube said despite registering more than a thousand runners across the country, SADC region and beyond they were still looking for a title sponsor.

He said they are transforming from half marathon to a full marathon next year and such was an opportunity for companies to come on board.                                    

Rahube said the goal for this year was to build a health post clinic in Lechana settlements in collaboration with Maano Ditshupo (local football player).                                                    

He mentioned that a secondary objective of this race was to encourage and empower local communities, corporate entities and individuals to lead transformed lives through participation in physical sporting actives as well as to be credible game players in eradicating poverty through community uplifting projects.  ENDS