Botswana dominates athletics champs

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Monday June 3, 2013 00:00

 

Female sprinter Leungo Matlhaku won gold in the 100 metre event and silver in 200 metre as the hosts picked 16 gold, 13 silver and 10 bronze medals. Second behind Botswana was Namibia who collected five gold medals, five silver and two bronze. In third place, Mauritius and Zambia were tied, each getting three gold medals, two silver and three bronze. But it was Botswana's Matlhaku who excelled when she romped to victory in the 100 metre final in 12.09s and was second fastest in 200 metres with 24.68s. Also outstanding over the weekend was Olympian Isaac Makwala who took the 400 metre gold on Saturday with a time of 46,62secs.

Makwala struggled in the heats with the wind seemingly affecting him. But he came back strong in the final and carried on his status as African champion. Reigning national 400m champion, Thapelo Ketlogetswe won silver in the event after finishing in 46.65s. The duo went on to spur the 4x4 relay team to gold with a time of 3:47:01 yesterday. 'The heats were quite challenging but when I went to the finals I told myself I had to show that I am the current African champion. Of course, I was not quite happy with the time but it was fair enough.'

The ladies' 4x4 team was also not to be outdone as they won the event with 3:47:07 mins. Yateya Kambepera, 2012 100m national champion, bettered his 10.36secs record from last year when he ran 10,31. He finished second behind Lesotho's Lehata Mositho who ran 10.26s. Kambepera looked to have recovered from a hamstring injury that kept him off the track for a long spell after last year's achievement. Botswana also dominated the 400m event for women with Galefele Moroko and Goitseone Seleka winning gold and bronze respectively. Moroko ran 54.61s, while Seleka did 54.79s. National 200m champion, Obakeng Ngwigwa was piped by Swaziland's Sibusiso Matsengwa after leading the pack for much of the race. Ngwingwa gave up the lead with under 10 metres to finish, only managing 20.85s finish. Matsengwa ran 20.67s.

The hosts were also outstanding in long distance events with Shepherd Kenatshele and Emmanuel Rantshwabi winning gold and silver in the 800 metre men's race. Kenatshele ran 1,49,28, while Rantshwabi finished the race in 1,50,58. Teenage sensation Kenaope Lefitile, who recently broke the javelin national record with a throw of 40.69 metre, continued her fine run as she won gold in the same event. Team Botswana manager Michael Ramotlhagodi hailed the team for the feat.

'We had a short period training together because we were only in camp for five days. But the team has done very well and it is commendable,' he said. Meanwhile, none of the athletes from the nine participating countries made the World Junior Championships cut.Seychelles finished ninth after managing two silver and one bronze.