Tiango, Too win Orange Phikwe marathon
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday July 29, 2025 12:46
Despite being a success, the event had to deal with some challenges in the past few years that saw it being excluded from the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) calendar due to irregularities in 2016. The 2025 edition was organised by Orange Botswana in partnership with Selebi-Phikwe Town Council.
In an exciting turn of events, Mema Tiango of BDF athletics club turned on the jets as she approached the finishing line to win the women’s 42,2km race, clocking 3:00:49. She won herself cash prize of P30, 000.
Tiango is one of the experienced road runners but in recent years she has been struggling to get back to her winning ways.
She was also part of the BAA long distance runners development programme where the athletes were supported with accommodation, monthly stipend feeding and training.
Tiango told Sport Monitor following her victory that she has started a new training programme under the tutelage of Godiraone Nthomphe.
According to her, the race plan was to run 3:20.00 and she managed to go under their set time.
“I have been struggling since 2019, but I have turned the corner now and I am looking forward to a good year and this is my second 42.2km race this year.
“The Phikwe course is always good and it was the same thing today. The competition on the road did not shake me, I focused on my own race,” she said.
Lesedinyana Tumelo finished in second position clocking 3:03.49 followed by Oratile Mhlauli finishing 3:06.49.
In the men’s race, Kenyan runner, Lazarus Too continued his dominance of local marathons, clocking 2:03.04. He also pocketed P30, 000.
Too said he was motivated going into the race because it is his second win this year, which means he is doing something right.
“The race started around 7am, which I felt was a bit late because we ended up finishing the race when it was hot. Despite that, the course was perfect, the competition was great but I had to wait and started to make my move,” Too said.
The second position went to Tsepo Mathibelle from Lesotho who registered 2:03.13 while Prosper Mutwira came third to stop the clock at 2:05.22.
The women’S 21km race was claimed by Mosadikwena Gotswakgosi of BDF athletics club while the men’s race was won by Ebel Chibanda.
Tebo Mbe won the women’s 10km race and the men’s race went to Onneile Molongwe.