Sesebo Matlapeng of Lefika Athletics Club has emerged victorious over his teammate, Kaelo Mosalagae during the Gaborone cross-country edition that was held on Saturday afternoon.
Matlapeng won the senior men category with a time of 40:40: 01 while the barefooted runner, Mosalagae clocked 40:41:01.
Onneile Dintwe of Sports View won the senior women category followed by Matshidiso Tamane of Gaborone Runners Club.
Otshegeditse Ramontshi won the junior men’s eight kilometre race and Rebaone Motlhagodi came second. Ernest Motlhagodi came third followed by Bokang Gaongalelwe.
A student at Bobonong Junior Secondary School, Saone Moilwa won the girls race followed by Precious Maemo from the same school.
Tessa Sephiri also from Bobonong ended the race in third position with Hope Majafi from SSKB Athletics Club coming in forth.
Musa Badubi won the junior women category followed by Botho Marope and Tshephang Ramankhi respectively. Thabo Mareletse of Jwaneng Athletics Club won the boys’ six kilometre race and Mpho Diphoro came second. Ontumetse Mmotlanyane and Bathusitse Ramankhi ended the race in third and forth positions respectively. Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) spokesperson, Ipolokeng ‘Rustler’ Ramatshaba told Monitor Sport that the race was the third and last edition of the semi- finals ahead of the national cross country championships that will be held on January 24 at a venue to be decided.
He said the other semi-finals were held in Maun. At the Maun event, Tops Mopatwa of Maun BDF Athletics Club won the senior men category while Kabo Jenamo of Francistown Athletics Club won the junior men eight kilometres.
Mishingo Ramatshaba of Francistown Athletics Club won the senior women race.“The BAA technical committee is going to meet and invite the deserving runners to the national cross country championships. “We will be selecting the national team after the competition. The team will represent the country at the South Africa Regional Championships that will be held in Seychelles next month,” said the long time athletics spokesperson.
Ramatshaba said BAA would also send a team to the World Championships that will be hosted by China in March.
Meanwhile, Ramatshaba explained that they decided to have the races in the afternoon as a way of preparing the runners for the international stage. He pointed out that it is international practice to run cross-country in high temperatures. He added that local runners should adapt to running in hot conditions.
