22 Jan 2025

 Euphoria has hit Serowe and the clock is ticking as the village is slated to host the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) Cross Country finals on Sunday.

The sport fraternity will be spoiled for an action packed event at an open space at Serowe dam which is scheduled to start at nine o’clock in the morning.  

Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, North-Central regional chairperson of BAA Mpho Bagwasi said sport enthusiasts should expect a thriller, adding preparations were at an advanced stage for the mega event.  

He said the first race, a four kilometre race for girls, would start at nine o’clock and would be followed by six kilometre race for young boys. Other races; six kilometres for junior women, eight kilometres for junior men, 10 kilometres for senior women and senior men would then follow subsequently.

Bagwasi shared that top three athletes from each category would receive prizes, with youth races winners expected to pocket P750 each, while the second position would make the athlete P500 richer and the third runners up would pocket P250.

As for junior categories, he said the first position would scoop P1 500 each while the second position would attract a prize money of P1 000 and lastly the third prize with P500.

However, he noted that as for senior categories, winners would pocket P3 000 each while position two would scoop P2 000 and lastly P1 000 for the third prize.

Bagwasi said the youth bracket comprised athletes aged 15 to 16 years, junior category of the age under 20 and senior from 20 and above.

Moreover, Bagwasi said the event would accord athletes an opportunity to prepare for international meets citing Region V  meet, African Junior Championships, Botswana Golden Continental Tour and World Senior Championships, among others.

Prominent athletes and crowd pullers will feature on Sunday’s Cross Country final in the likes of Sesebo Matlapeng, Lopang Oontse and Othusitse Mokaraoke for men. For women, he said Olebogeng Segolame and Lerato Mokima were part of the runners that were expected to grace the event.

He said BAA had some competitions in the south and north regions prior to the Sunday meet that created a platform for athletes to qualify for the cross country final.

Touching on security and safety, he said police visibility would be high to provide surveillance at the area and also any unbecoming behavior would be managed and dealt with.

Bagwasi said that routes were marked by professionals, adding that for four kilometer category, athletes would use a two kilometer stretch twice located at the dam while for six kilometres, they would use the loop three times and four times for eight kilometres. In addition, he said in the 10 kilometres category, athletes would use the loop five times.

He said the event would comprise of local clubs partaking, being Lefika Athletics Club, Selebi-Phkwe, Francistown, Gaborone, Jwaneng, Mmadinare, Serowe, Maun and New Vision, among others.

Bagwasi said that cross country was an event that features obstacles such as slippery terrains, slope and sandy terrains. ENDS