Noise, Nerves and Nearly Missed Batons
Thulaganyo Jankey | Wednesday May 6, 2026 06:00
It was great to see so many nations descend on our shores – not for politics but something that can actually conjure happiness and excitement. Botswana pulled off the ultimate diplomatic miracle: nations from all corners of the globe descended on Gaborone, not to argue about trade deals or borders, but to argue about who dropped the baton first, not to feud over the opening and closing of any straits. The National Stadium became the United Nations of sprinting—except instead of speeches, there were vuvuzelas, and instead of resolutions, there were relay splits. It was refreshing to see countries channel their competitive spirit into something that actually produced joy. No one stormed out of a meeting; they stormed down the track. No one vetoed anything; they just vetoed gravity by leaping into baton handoffs. And when the crowd erupted, it wasn’t in protest—it was in pure, unfiltered celebration. Noah Lyles did not come.
The official reason for his absence—alongside Sha’Carri Richardson—was due to team selection decisions by USA Track & Field, influenced by athlete availability, travel costs, and a strategic focus on future competitions. But the ever-creative Botswana social news mill was not convinced. They surgically cut up the official reasons: Firstly, the USA never has issues with travel costs. Remember, this is a country that has even sent people to the moon. Now you want to tell me they cannot make a trans-Atlantic flight to Southern Africa. Locals also concocted a theory that Lyles's absence was due to the fact that he was petrified that Letsile Tebogo might show him another COVID-inducing pair of heels. COVID is still here.
The truth is, diseases never quite leave Africa, and they will stay somewhere in a corner like a pervert in a white van waiting for just the right moment to strike. And then came the performances: equal parts dazzling and bewildering. Some runners flew down the track like cheetahs; others looked like they’d accidentally wandered into the wrong sport. The crowd didn’t mind—they roared for every stumble and every sprint with the same enthusiasm. In true Botswana fashion, the local athletes initially showed their legendary hospitality. “After you,” they seemed to say, graciously letting visiting teams snatch a few wins. But halfway through, someone must have whispered, “Wait... this is actually a competition”. Suddenly, the mood shifted. Out came the best running shoes, the serious faces, and the kind of baton handoffs that looked rehearsed in front of a mirror. From that point on, Botswana stopped being the polite host and started being the fierce competitor.
The visitors quickly realized they weren’t just racing against athletes—they were racing against an entire stadium that had transformed into a rhythm-powered engine of support. In the end, Botswana managed to both disappoint and delight, sometimes in the same race. But that’s the beauty of it: they turned the World Relays into a spectacle where athletic drama met cultural flair. For comments, feedback, and insults, email inkspills1969@gmail.com) Thulaganyo Jankey is a training consultant who runs his own training consultancy that provides training in BQA- accredited courses. His other services include registering consultancies with BQA and developing training courses. Contact him on 74447920 or email admin@ultimaxtraining.co.bw