Kenatshele, Dintwe Conquer Challenging Terrain
Tumelo Mouwane | Monday February 15, 2016 14:31
The scotching sun and the rugged terrain did not deter the duo from taking the women and men’s titles respectively. Dintwe of Sports View Runners Club, (SVRN) outran 13 other competitors in the 10km senior women’s race.
The South African-based Dintwe, who runs for Nedbank when she is in the neighbouring country, finished in 35:19:59 after dominating from start to finish.
Mema Tiango of Sir Seretse Khama Barracks Athletics Club (SSKB) was second in 38:29:89 while Onkemetse Solotate of Gaborone Runners Club (GRC) came third.
Solotate, who has been absent from the athletics scene, overtook Marea Mano in the last lap. Dintwe, Tiango and Solotate were awarded cash price of P1,000, P750 and P500 respectively.
Dintwe said she enjoyed the course due to the slopes and the descents. “It was very sunny, the weather was not favourable to us, but the time is not bad. I had planned to run sub-34 minutes, but the time is not bad because I ran 35 minutes. The terrain was very enjoyable because it had slopes and uplifts. I am happy with my and other women’s performance,” Dintwe said.
The senior men’s race saw Kaelo Mosalagae who competed barefooted, quit the race after four kilometres due to unbearable temperatures. It left 29 competitors facing the challenging terrain and Shepherd Kenatshele of SSKB emerged victorious and walked away with P1,000 cash after setting a high pace. Shepherd resisted the scorching sun and took only 29:34:17 minutes to complete the race. The reigning men’s national champion set the bar high for other runners with his consistent pace.
Sesebo Matlapeng arrived a minute later (30:09:17) and walked away with P750. While Rapula Diphoko was not far off, finishing in 30:31:74 to pocket P500.
Kenatshele said his focus was on beating Kaelo Mosalagae. “I didn’t come with any intentions except a rematch against Kaelo after the Kopong marathon incident.
Kaelo felt he could outrun me so I thought maybe I should just come here, not for winning but rather showing him I can beat him since he thought my win was a fluke,” he said.
In youth and junior categories races, Kedumetse Ramokate of JAC touched the finish line tape after 16:46:29 in the four kilometre race followed by Letlhogonolo Motshabi of Bobonong Junior Secondary School (BJSS) who clocked 17:08:77. Botho Tumediso of JAC was third in 17:31:36 minutes.
In the boy’s section, Kaboyaone Kwati of BJSS won the race in 13:07:92, while his compatriot Kagiso Sebala finished second with Joseph Anewekgomo of JAC third. Lame Nane emerged victorious in the junior women’s six kilometre race, finishing in 22:09:65 ahead of Politeness Seane of Matshekge Hill School (MHS) who came second in 22:36:95. Mosa Badubi (24:00:01) of MHS was third. In the junior men’s run, Kagiso Kebatshwaretse of MHS won the race with a time of 25:24:16, Nico Modikwe of SSKB emerged second while Ditiro Simon of MHS was third.
The competitions were used as part of a selection process ahead of the national team’s Africa Cross Country competitions in Cameroon Yaonde in March.