Reflecting on best-ever performance at World Championships
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday September 2, 2023 06:00
A ceremonial welcome was scheduled for Wednesday, with attendance restricted to invitees only due to security considerations at the Debswana Corporate Centre in Gaborone. However, the ceremony was postponed in the morning, with communication relayed via a text message from Oabona Theetso, the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) vice president-administration. He explained that several athletes and members of the management team were experiencing issues with missing luggage, leaving some athletes without suitable attire. Double medallist Letsile Tebogo, Collen Kebinatshipi, and the national team assistant coach, Kebonyemodisa ‘Dose’ Mosimanyane, were notably absent from the group that arrived at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport on Tuesday. Botswana was ranked number 26 amongst the 200 countries that participated in the championships. This accomplishment was driven by the silver and bronze medals secured by Tebogo and Tshepiso Masalela, who qualified for the men's 800m final, thus earning a Paris Olympic Games 2024 ticket. This performance marked a significant improvement from last year's 51st-place finish in the competition held in Oregon, the United States. On paper, Botswana fielded a robust team for the champion ships, with about four athletes achieving sub-45s in the 400m event, while others demonstrated sub-46s performances.
The team experienced mixed fortunes, including the unfortunate disqualification of the men's 4x400m relay team. Additionally, a potential medal contender, Bayapo Ndori, sustained an injury during the semi-final, leading to his withdrawal from the relay. Some observers posited that the team's vulnerability to injuries could have been exacerbated by their arrival in Budapest on the eve of the competition. Furthermore, some analysts pointed out that the team's demanding schedule since the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 might have contributed to their fatigue. The women's 4x400 relay team faced disappointment as they failed to advance to the final. The new norm for athletics involves a tightly packed schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a condensed championship calendar. While the impact of the pandemic on the global calendar was acknowledged, it was also noted that the compressed schedule provided new opportunities for athletes to participate in significant competitions, akin to sportspersons in golf and tennis.
Local athletics analyst, Outule Sebele opined that the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) could have better prepared the team by sending them earlier for acclimatisation and training. Sebele acknowledged that the pandemic had significantly disrupted the global sporting calendar. “But at the same time, I believe the way the schedule has been squeezed has benefitted our athletes because we have seen new participants representing our country. The exposure to these major championships is a major achievement. However, it has not been ideal for top athletes worldwide with some not preparing well to be fit for these major championships as we saw with some defending world champions withdrawing from Budapest 23, opting for Paris '24, which was disappointing,” he said. Sebele offered his insights into Team Botswana's performance, particularly highlighting the commendable performances of male athletes. He observed that Leungo Scotch had a disappointing showing in his individual 400m races and had anticipated a stronger performance from him. Sebele attributed Scotch's performance to a failure to reach peak condition ahead of Budapest 23. As for the women's 4x400m relay team, Sebele commended their efforts and noted that they had performed well leading up to the championships. “Coaches made a blunder by roping in untested Galefele Moroko into the team because she has not been active this season. We have Motlatsi Rante and Golekanye Chikani who recently returned from World Universities Games (FISU). Those two are still in shape and could have done a better job. But as a country we should acknowledge that our young athletes are showing the world what they are made of,” he said.
Regarding the disqualification of the men's relay team, Sebele identified a recurring issue of lane infringement that required correction. He emphasised the importance of coaches staying updated on new rules introduced to the track and field domain. “Our coaching staff should be up to date with new rules that are always introduced for track and field. We have seen some rules being introduced and some being adjusted. You could tell Tebogo was not aware how important it was to maintain a win during his heats to secure a proper lane draw as compared to the American athletes who were not taking chances of getting an unfavourable lane draw,” Sebele said. Beyond the competitive aspect, Sebele expressed the need for a review of the performance rewards policy. National team head coach Chilume Ntshwarang described Budapest 23 as a valuable learning experience.
He highlighted the opportunity for coaches to engage in workshops focused on applying scientific principles to athletics coaching, enhancing coaching structures, and incorporating science into training methodologies. “We were taught on how to improve our coaching structure, advanced details, more especially, science inclusion in coaching. That is what World Athletics is preaching today,” Ntshwarang said. Meanwhile, Kebinatshipi, making his debut on the global stage, shared his ambitions of qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics. “I did not panic during the races because I had set my mind on the Olympics. That is why I clocked a Personal Best (PB) of 44.80s. During the semi-final, I had a knock on my lower back which limited me to excel. I dropped out of the relay team because I did not want to worsen my injury. I have cancelled all the races that I had planned after Budapest 23. I want to focus on rehabilitation here in Holland for two weeks. I will bounce back next year,” Kebinatshipi said.