- Bayapo Ndori in World Lead and SB time of 45.16s in men’s 400m
- Zibani Ngozi close by within 45.70s in same event
- Leungo Scotch in first place in his heat within 46.25s
- Lydia Jele records SB of 23.55s in women’s 200m
- Back in Gabs 6 qualify for African Games in Ghana next month
GAZETTE REPORTER
Bayapo Ndori stole the spotlight with an impressive World Lead and Seasons Best (SB) time of 45.16s in the men’s 400m race at the AGN Track and Field League 3 meet that was held in South Africa over the weekend where Botswana athletes stamped their authority.
Senior National Athletics Coach Kebonyemodisa ‘Dose’ Mosimanyane was soon dismissing concerns about the redoubtable athlete peaking too early in the season by emphasising the strategic planning in place for Ndori’s development.
“Infact, we have a plan for diagnosing that,” he said in a brief telephone interview about Ndori’s remarkable performance. “I am also happy and impressed by this time. It shows that we are doing something right.”
First place for Scotch
Adding to Ndori’s triumph, Zibani Ngozi secured second place with a commendable time of 45.70s in the same event while Leungo Scotch made a mark by clinching first position in his heat with a time of 46.25s.
Other Botswana athletes also did well at the meet, with Tumo Nkape clocking a time of 1:46.93s to win the men’s 800m and Lydia Jele running an SB of 23.55s in the women’s 200m.
Looking ahead, Mosimanyane said both Scotch and Ndori will continue their training at the High-Performance Centre in Potchefstroom, South Africa alongside Botswana’s sprint sensation Letsile Tebogo, consolidating their skills for future competitions.
Six for Ghana
As these mainstay names were creating distances between themselves and their counterparts in neighbouring South Africa, back home six athletes were securing qualification for the upcoming African Games in Ghana in a third Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) meet in Gaborone over the same weekend.
The standout performers were Tsaone Sebele, Collen Kebinatshipi, Kevin Lobatlamang, Ludi Pinaemang, Edwin Molelekwa and Kago Seshoka, each of whom achieved impressive results in their respective events.
Sebele displayed speed in the women’s 200m, clocking 23.79s, while Kebinatshipi’s swift time of 20.52s in the men’s 200m showcased his prowess on the track.
Depth in sprinting talent
Lobatlamang and Pinaemang both delivered strong performances in the men’s 200m with times of 21.05s and 21.09s respectively, demonstrating Botswana’s depth in sprinting talent. Molelekwa’s time of 21.13s in the same race further highlighted the country’s competitiveness.
In the men’s 400m, Seshoka secured qualification with a time of 46.53s, rounding off Botswana’s impressive showing at the BAA meet.