World Relays preps kick into gear
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday March 9, 2026 09:12
The training camp will be held from March 9 to 29, whilst the men’s team will follow from March 15 until 29.
The first phase of the camp will take place in Francistown, after which the team moves to Gaborone from March 23 to 29, to coincide with participation in the Lefika International Relays.
Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) CEO, Mabua Mabua, eplained that only athletes who would have satisfied the required three out of competition doping tests by April 25, will be eligible for the World Relays team.
He added that the selection into the camp is based on the most recent performance.
For his part, head coach, Mogomotsi Otsetswe said the camp kicks off immediately after the BAA Track and Field Series this weekend.
“We want to give attention to the women’s team at the moment. We feel that there is a lot of work that we need to do to take the team to the upper level,” Otsetswe said. “On the men’s side, it is everyone’s game, so we have not finalised that list yet. The season has just started, most athletes have not reached their peak, and we do not want a situation where we leave out someone who could have benefited the team.” He added that they would wait for one or two competitions before making the men’s final call.
Otsetswe noted that they have been monitoring athletes who were included in the initial provisional team list that was released in January remains the same. He said there has not been much difference in terms of performance.
According to the head coach, there is still time to sharpen the women’s team amidst concerns, even from the association, over the performance of females in international competitions.
He said there is still a lot of time to prepare the team, starting with specific preparation and moving to the competition phase.
Meanwhile, Otsetswe said they are concerned about positive doping tests, hence the need for the athletes to also take the matter seriously. He said that is why in- and out-of-competition tests are encouraged. Otsetswe is happy to be back in the national team fold after some time out.
“It is good to lead the national team once again. Working with coaches who bring a wealth of experience is a bonus. BAA wants us to deliver, and we are not going to disappoint them and the country. During my absence, other coaches delivered,” he said.
Gaborone will be the host city for the 2026 World Relays, marking a first for Africa. The National Stadium will be the venue for the two-day competition to be held on May 2 and 3.
This is the first time a World Athletics Series event is being hosted in Botswana, and the first World Relays held in Africa since its inception in 2014.
The event will feature six relay disciplines, with a maximum of 24 teams per event. Both men and women will compete in the 4x100m and 4x400m events, whilst there are the 4x100m and 4x400m mixed races.
Teams will be competing for World Relays titles and qualification spots for the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest and the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing. The qualification period ends on April 5.