Ramoseka is Phikwe Mascom marathon champ

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Monday May 7, 2012 00:00

 

SELEBI-PHIKWE: Runners from the Botswana Defense Force (BDF) Athletics Club on Saturday  dominated the Mascom Phikwe Marathon 2012. The 42. 2 kilometres marathon was won by Raobine Ramoseka with a time of 2:23:55, Kelebonye Simbowa was runner-up at 2:24:57 and Unaswi Dambe came third at 2:31:08. The marathon, which was on its 27th year, is sponsored by Mascom to the tune of P320, 000.

In the women's section,  Zimbabwe's Tabitha Tsatsa won the 42.2 km with a time of 2:56:05 followed by her training partner, Simangaliso Moyo at 3:06:26. Onkemetse Selotate  hoisted  the Botswana flag by finishing third with a time of 3:10:30.In the 15 km (women) Thulaganyo Motlamorago came first with a time of 57:21, followed by Mosa Badubi with a time of 57:31 and in the third position was Kefilwe Galeitsiwe who did a time of 60:25.  In the men's category, Kealeboga Motshereganyi who did a time of 48:44, Onkarabile Swimbo followed with a time of 48:45 and Letlhogonolo Motlotlegi was third at 49:59.

Speaking to Sport Monitor after the race, Ramoseka said he was not happy with the time he had run, adding that he could have done better. He admitted that he faced stiff competition from equally determined runners ahead of London 2012 Olympics. Ramoseka also won the race in 2010.For his part, runner-up Simbowa explained that he was still tired  from the  Gaborone Marathon. He said he  took part in the Phikwe marathon hoping to qualify for London 2012. The qualifying time for the Olympics is 2:18:00. 'As Batswana runners we do not have professional coaches, but we compete with athletes from outside the country who have professional mentors. We train on our own.  Short distance runners are better because they are taken to camps outside the country,' said Simbowa.

The Zimbabwean runner, Tsatsa, said it was her first time to take part in the Phikwe marathon. She explained that she didn't get much competition from the other runners including Moyo. She also urged Batswana runners to train harder if they want do better in international races. Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) Public Relations Officer, Ipolokeng Ramatshaba said in an interview that the times that the runners did were not good enough. He attributed the poor performance to the heat. He also observed that some of the runners are still fatigued due after the Gaborone Marathon. He adviced that for a runner to take part in another marathon they need a three-month break. Ramatshaba said it was also disappointing to note that some runners came to the marathon simply for cash prizes.