Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana athletes once again hoisted the country’s flag, winning 22 medals at the just ended Southern Region Senior Athletics Championship held in Harare over the weekend.
Out of the number, 11 were gold, four silver, and seven bronze, positioning Botswana number one on medal standings.
Botswana won the 400 metre race, where Zibani Ngozi stamped his authority and won gold with a time of 45.68, while Ernest Kumevu won bronze with 46.12 In the women’s 400 metre race, Golekanye Chikane won silver with 53.12 and Naledi Monthe gained Bronze with 54.50. Botswana’s rising star in sprinting, Same Mhutsiwa was crowed the 100 metre champion after stopping the clock with a Personal Best time of 11.82.
Botswana Athletics Association acting president, Oabona Theetso said in an interview that, they were happy that the country finished in position one.
Botswana Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Zambia, Lesotho, Namibia, eSwatini, Mozambique, Malawi, and Seychelles competed at the championships.
“The team performed very well. The medals we amassed from the competition show growth and depth from our team,” he said.
Theetso said the team that competed did not have the big names, it was the B team and it delivered.
“But then again, look at athletes like Same Mhutsiwa who just graduated from youth to junior, she competed in Namibia, then went to Nigeria and Zimbabwe and she has been very consistent, and registered her first sub 12,” he said
Theetso said BAA would continue to give athletes the opportunity to showcase their talent. The results he said were also an indicator of where they were destined, in terms of the World Championship, although most of the athletes did not qualify by right.
“But if you look at athletes like Tumo Nkape, he is ranking now, and has accumulated points. Also Karabo Mothibi is showing consistency in 100 metres, he ran 10.14 which is a very good time,” said Theetso.
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