Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana’s 800m sensation, Kethobogile Haingura, will be amongst other athletes who will board the flight to the World Athletics Championships to be held in Tokyo, Japan from September 13-25.
Haingura qualified after clocking a Personal Best time of 1:43.88 at the ASA Grand Prix 2 held in South Africa yesterday. His qualification brought back a ray of hope in the middle distance event, given that after Nijel Amos, no Botswana athlete has ever shaken the world in that event. The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) vice president, Oabona Theetso said they were happy that Haingura had qualified for the World Championships.
“Actually, we had anticipated that he would also qualify. He is much focused,” he said.
Theetso said Haingura gained exposure and confidence during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, adding that one enjoyed how he executed his race plan on track.
“Haingura is not someone who talks a lot, but I had an opportunity to travel with him, and during our chats, he told me he went to the Olympics to learn,” he said.
Theetso said the Olympics was the athlete’s first international exposure and was hopeful that he would prove to the world that he could do better. Tshepiso Masalela also clocked a PB time of 3:35.26 in the 1 500 metres, something which Theetso said impressed them. He said if the athletes continued to do well, it shows that their South African coach, Samuel Sepeng, was doing something right.
“It will be remiss not to commend him for the sterling job he continues to do for Botswana athletes who are under his stable,” he said.
He said athletes like Tumo Nkape, Letlhogonolo Mokgethi, Oratile Nowe and Haingura awee all under his mentorship and result were visible.
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