Sports

Joseph aims for long distance throne

Winner: Kitsiso Joseph won the Kopong Cross Country race PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG
 
Winner: Kitsiso Joseph won the Kopong Cross Country race PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG

The BDF Athletics Club runner clocked 38.58.58 minutes in the senior women 10km race. "I believe I am okay in either of the disciplines, either slope or flat. I came here to make good times, to be in a position to qualify for international competitions. There was no challenge at all.

I feel like I am ok with any terrain either road or hills. I am just good at it, it depends how much training I had," Joseph said. She, however, was not happy with her time as she feels she could lower it by four minutes. She anticipates a good year on the track as she targets to dominate the long distance races.

"I feel that I have done well even though it is my first time competing in cross country races. During the festive, I only did jogs, not intensely focused on training. I only intensified my training this week. I feel that I need to improve my hill, that is where I feel I struggle a bit but if I can master the hill, I can improve my times.

I feel I had gone off to a good start and I need to reduce my times by at least four minutes," said Joseph. It was an all-local event with no foreign runners and the senior men's category winner, Zibani Batungale believes the local talent is ready to compete. "I feel we have started this year well and as it goes on, we will be able to record better times. Today I came here to record better time. I did better than all the cross country races. My target was to run 32 minutes but I did better," he said. The Gaborone Striders runner clocked 31.02.15 minutes to claim the winners' medal.