Team Botswana delivered an outstanding performance at the Southern African Confederation of Athletics (SACA) U18 and U20 Championships held in Mauritius from June 5-7, 2026, securing 20 medals to finish first overall on the official medal table.
The haul brought home by the stellar team includes 10 gold, three silver, and seven bronze medals.
The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) sent an elite delegation of 18 athletes, comprising 13 males and five females. They competed in individual events including the 100m, 200m, 400m, 1500m, long jump, and high jump.
The men’s U20 squad featured Wazha Matakule (100m), Jack Newman (100m/200m), Lucky Chivero (100m), Junior Phatsima (200m/400m), Warona Mokgosi (400m), Tsaone Dintwa (400m), Jayden Mathambo (400mH), Lebogang Mugagu (1500m), and Agang Magang (high jump).
The women’s U20 line-up consisted of Same Mhutsiwa (100m/200m), Oarabile Hines (100m/200m), Wedu Matiwe (100m/200m), and Ludo Mbekwa (long jump).
Bokang Isang (100m), Reiniours Geza (400m), Tawana Tema (long jump), and Ross Bale (high jump) made the men’s U18 team, while Game Onneile (100m/200m) was the sole athlete in the women’s U18 category.
Geza delivered Botswana’s first gold medal, storming to victory in the men’s U18 400m in an impressive 49.11 seconds. Isang won bronze in the men’s U18 100m after clocking 10.84 to finish third, while his female counterpart, Onneile, secured bronze in the women’s U18 100m.
Phatsima captured gold in the men’s U20 400m, clocking 46.31, while fellow countryman Dintwa secured bronze with a time of 48.18 in the same event.
Mathambo claimed silver in the men’s U20 110m hurdles with a time of 14.75. Meanwhile, Matakule won bronze in the men’s U20 100m, securing qualification for the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 2026 by clocking 10.49.
Mhutsiwa emerged as the champion in the women’s U20 100m, securing gold after clocking 11.84, while Mugagu earned silver in the men’s U20 1500m in 4:03.59.
The men’s U20 4x100m relay team—comprising Phatsima, Newman, Chivero, and Matakule—secured gold in 41.66, while the U20 mixed 4x400m relay team of Matiwe, Dintwa, Hines, and Mokgosi secured silver in 3:40.91.
The mixed 4x100m relay team, comprising Matakule, Hines, Newman, and Mhutsiwa, also won gold in a swift 45.24 seconds.
Mbekwa secured gold in the women’s U20 long jump with a leap of 5.51m, while Magang produced a personal best jump of 1.95m to claim bronze in the men’s U20 high jump.
In the men’s U20 400m hurdles, Mathambo secured a bronze medal after clocking 55.59 seconds, while Mugagu earned another bronze in the men’s U20 800m with a time of 1:56.55.
Onneile secured gold in the women’s U18 200m, recording a time of 25.65. In the men’s U20 200m, Phatsima stormed to victory in 20.97, while Isang won gold recording 21.14. Mhutsiwa claimed her second gold medal with a victory in the women’s U20 200m in 24.30.
In an interview, Head Coach Kefentse Monare said the competition was a critical preparation platform for athletes targeting qualification for the World Athletics U20 Championships, to be held in Oregon, USA, this August 2026.
Monare stated that the meet provided valuable international exposure and competition experience essential for developing the next generation of elite athletes as they build toward future major events, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
“We selected the athletes based on the fact that we want more athletes to qualify for the World Junior Championship and as a preparation for World Junior Championship for those that have qualified. We took the top best from the youth to gain exposure and experience as they also have World Youth Olympics and Region 5 this year,” he said.
In preparation for the event, Monare noted that the BAA organised a training camp and arranged for the team to travel to Mauritius early to allow adequate time for acclimatisation. He added that this ensured the athletes were physically and mentally prepared for the championships. He revealed that the BAA handled all travel and logistical arrangements to ensure the squad was fully supported throughout.
