Focus Shifts To �Neglected� Field Events
Naledi Lemogang | Monday March 20, 2017 16:14
BAA sports development officer, Gable Garenamotse said the athletics competition focused more on field rather than track events. He said the competition was for athletes to get another shot at qualifying particularly for the World Championships in London.
“The other aim is that we want to give field events a chance because most of the time they are not included in our calendar of events,” he said, adding that some of the field competitions have fallen behind.
“The emphasis was on the high jump, long jump, short put, javelin, and discuss. We wanted to give opportunity to athletes who do the huddles because it is one of the events that has been not included in our calendar of events,” Garenamotse explained.
He said all competitions are open to all age groups from juniors to seniors.
Garenamotse said they want to prepare athletes as early as possible for major competitions. Botswana will send a team to the southern region senior championships in Zimbabwe in June.
Garenamotse said compared to track events, field athletes have not been doing well. The former long jumper said athletes are still jumping around 14m when the qualifying standard is 18m for men, while local women are still doing nine members compared to the required jump of 16m.
He said the country still has a long way in field events like discuss and shot put, but has performed well in high jump and javelin.
Meanwhile high jumper, Gobe Takobana topped the men’s standings with a 2.10m jump while Aobakwe Nkobela was second with 2.03m.
“This was my first competition this year and for it is a good start to the season and I aim to improve my performance in each competition,” Takobana said.
In the women’s section, Chedza Majore shrugged off stiff competition to finish first with a jump of 5.63m. The 22 year-old said she has been not been training well due to school commitments. She however, hopes for improvement.
Discuss results
Women’s discuss
1. Tebogo Tlapologo - 32.24m
2. Kebone Masoko- 25.35m
Men’s discuss
1. Thabang Katjinotjiwa - 37.53m
2. Modisawame Kudumo - 37.35m