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As the new athletics season began this month, Maun BDF Athletics Club continued with its preparations for scheduled local and international competitions.
The club commenced its preparations for the new season in October last year and is mainly gearing up to qualify its athletes for the Olympic Games scheduled for Paris, France from July 26th to August 11th next year.
The club’s coach, Meleko Ndolo told Times Sport that their aim this season is to prepare athletes to qualify for different international competitions and also for them to participate in different local competitions.
The club has already participated at the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) track and field series event that was held in Francistown at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium this past weekend. The series featured different categories comprising of relays, sprints, middle distance, throws and jumps.
He noted that local competitions such as the BAA track and field series are beneficial because they give them an opportunity to observe and analyse the performance of their athletes as they prepare for international competitions.
“We are currently working hard to prepare for the World Championships that will be held in Budapest, Hungary from August 19th-23rd, the All African Games billed for Ghana, the Africa Junior Championships set for Lusaka, Zambia on April 19th-23rd and the Commonwealth Youth Games to be held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago from August 4th-11th,” Ndolo revealed adding that all the events are scheduled for this year.
He added, “locally we are targeting only three events being Road to Golden Grand Prix, Golden Grand Prix and BAA nationals.”
Meanwhile, the club had fielded 18 athletes at the BAA track and field series with 17 competing in different track categories and only one in high jump.
The athletes included Phenyo Lebakeng (high jump), Leungo Scotch and Byan Motsumi (100m/200m), Larona Mayana and Kemorena Tisang (200m /400m), Kethobogile Haingura and Boago Morolong (1500m) as well as Matshidiso Kaira, Senyama Gaolape, Matshidiso Kayira, Keotshepe Mododo and Pako Mosweunyane (800m).
The next series event will be held next weekend on Saturday (February 4th) still in Francistown at the same venue.
