07 Apr 2024

Lefika International Relays Continental Tour - 2024 edition did not attain its objective of being a qualifier for The Bahamas relays and Olympics as countries did not turn up for the event.

For World Athletics to recognise an event as a qualifier, at least two national teams should be in the line-up.

Only, Team Botswana competed with local clubs in thisLefia edution, which means results will not be used. The closing date for The Bahamas relays qualification was yesterday.

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) vice president - technical, Kenneth Kikwe, said they had assembled relay teams to better their time so that they could fall in the qualifying bracket.

“Our expectation was that we will have a number of countries, something that could help us to qualify.  Yes, we are disappointed that countries did not show up.

We even tried to help Lefika Athletics Club to ensure that we secure some countries to come here,” he said.

Kikwe said Kenya was also holding relay trials, which attracted other countries, hence not turning up for Lefika Relays event.

He said South Africa University Games also clashed with Lefika, adding that despite the fact that the closing date was yesterday, they would only know today whether other countries had run better times than Botswana men and women’s 4x400m as well as 4x400m mixed relays to qualify for The Bahamas.

He, however, said not all was lost given that they would also send relay teams to the Africa Senior Championships to seek Olympic berth.  Lefika Athletics Club chairperson, Mooketsi Thari, said the event went well given that a lot of clubs turned up. He said the only obstacle was the fact that they did not achieve their objective of having the event as a qualifier. ENDS