Hunt for Olympic berths continues

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Friday April 20, 2012 00:00

The bulk of the athletes took part in the Sports View International meet last weekend, but none managed an Olympic qualifying standard time.

The National Championship presents yet another opportunity for the athletes to book places at the London Games scheduled for July-August this year. South Africa-based sprinter Yatea Kapembera, who won the 100 and 200 metres sprints, came close in the 100 metres. His time was 10.49 secs, slightly missing the 10.18 set time.

And Kapembera has revealed that his focus is on one event this time. So he has been concentrating his efforts on 100 metres. 'I really want to qualify for the Olympics, so I was disappointed but I will try my best in coming events,' he told Mmegi Sport.

'I'll just focus on 100 metres this time because I feel I stand a better chance in it,' he said. Jamaica-based Isaac Makwala also jetted into the country early in the week for the meet. He will be hoping for a much better performance after a dismal performance in the UTech Classics in Kingston last week.

'I didn't do very well because of the weather. We ran under wet conditions and that really affected me,' he said.His 4x 400 metre relay team mate, Obakeng Ngwigwa watched the Sports View meet from the terraces after being cautioned not to run by his doctor. He has been struggling with a right leg quad muscle injury sustained shortly before the 4x 4 race in the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.

Indications are that he could be back in action this weekend.'I was told not to take part in the Sports View meet by the doctor, but I'm likely to run in the National Championships,' said Ngwigwa, who recently moved to the High Performance Centre in Pretoria, South Africa.

Omphemetse Mokgadi, who won last weekend's 400 metres' race in 47.7 secs, will also be eager to put up a much polished performance.He admitted that the 47.7 secs finish was unsatisfactory. 'It was a poor performance because I have been doing 46 secs and 47 secs and this does not excite me at all,' Mokgadi said.  Lydia Mashila is expected to continue her dominance in the women's 200 metres category, but will likely face stiff competition from Joy Mphato. Nigel Amos and Isaac Seoke will renew their rivalry in the 800m event.