Six qualify for international competitions
Athletes from the Maun BDF Athletics Club put brilliant performances at the just ended Debswana National Championships, held in Francistown.
The athletes, Bayapo Ndori, Anthony Pesela, Leungo Scotch, Tlhomphang Basele, Tshepiso Masalalela and Obakeng Kamberuka met the qualifying time for the Africa Senior championships to be held in Mauritius next month. Ndori and Pesela further qualified for the World Championships.
Leungo Scotch took position one in the senior men’s 400m final race with 45.44sec, while Anthony Pesela came on position one in the senior men’s 200m final, clocking 20.28sec followed by Bayapo Ndori with a time of 20.85sec.
Tshepiso Masalela finished the 800m senior men’s finals on position one clocking 1:46.79sec followed by Ketlhobogile Haingura with 1:47.16sec. Kemorena Tisang also came first in the senior men’s 110m hurdles final recording 14.75sec while in the under 20 women’s 200m finals Obakeng Kamberuka took position one with of 24.47sec.
In addition, the club’s 400m senior men relay team consisting of Anthony Pesela, Leungo Scotch, Victor Ntweng and Bayapo Ndori took position one after clocking 3:07.75 sec in the finals. The women’s 4x400m senior women team consisting of Boitshepiso Kelapile, Sarefo Winnie, Hangani Tshiamo and Kamberuka Obakeng also took position one after clocking 3:53.78sec.
The Debswana National Championships was divided into three categories namely youth, junior and senior categories. Different local athletics clubs participated in the middle and long distances races, relays (4x100m, 4x400m and mixed relays), sprints, jumps (high jump, long jump and triple jump) and throws (javelin, shot put and discus).
Meanwhile, three under 20 athletes from Jwaneng Athletics Club, Kevin Lobatlamang, Lundi Pinaemang and Collen Kebinatshipi registered personal best times in the men’s200m which were also the qualifying times for the World U20 Cali Athletics Championships. The trio are under the tutelage of Coach Chilume Ntshwarang.
Club Coach Meleko Ndolo revealed that a total of 27 athletes from their club participated in the event. Ndolo explained that the Debswana National Championships marked the end of the national athletics season, and opened up a window for international events. He said the national championships gave them an opportunity to assess their athletes’ fitness.
He also revealed that they intend to attend some few races in South Africa as a way of preparing the athletes for the World Junior Championships and the World Senior Championships and also giving other athletes an opportunity to qualify.
