FRANCISTOWN: The Big-League competition has proven to be a pivotal event for Botswana’s athletes, with some of the runners securing spots for the World Championships in Tokyo and showcasing impressive performances.
The competition, held here over the weekend at the Obed Itani Stadium drew in around 300 athletes, including local and international ones from Zimbabwe, Lesotho and South Africa.
Furthermore, some of the competitors achieved personal bests and some secured qualifying spots at the World Championships in Tokyo, scheduled for September 13.
Big League Managing Director, Shadreck Mokento, said the athletics competition was a precursor to the launch of a local Youth Diamond League.
"We are going to host athletics competitions in different districts until the final event for the local Youth Diamond League," he said.
For his part, Botswana Athletics Association Sport Development Officer, Larona Koosimile noted that Big League approached them to host a series of competitions.
"We advised them that there is no better time than now, when athletes are at their peak," he said.
Koosimile added that the competition was beneficial for senior athletes who have qualified for the Tokyo competitions and served as a preparatory event ahead of the Diamond League.
He highlighted impressive performances from athletes such as Olympic gold medalist, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, Leungo Scotch and Zibani Ngozi.
"Ndori showed that he has recovered from injury while Scotch and Ngozi clocked 44.01, proving to be competitive athletes," he said.
Koosimile also explained that 10 athletes have automatically qualified for the World Championships, including Tebogo, who qualified for the 100m and 200m races.
Other qualifiers include Collen Kebinatshipi, Bayapo Ndori, Leungo Scotch and others.
From the competition, Lee Bhekempilo earned a qualifying spot after finishing first in the 400m male premium with a time of 44.40, followed by Bayapo Ndori (44.69) and Zibane Ngozi (45.01).
Miranda Coetzee won the 400m women's premium, while Tebogo finished first in the 200m with a time of 10.08.
Other winners included Lone Madzimule, who won the 100m women's promo with a time of 12.34 and Senwelo Sebabatso who won the men's short put male premium category.
Tshegofatso Bojosi took position one in the women's long jump competition.
Tebogo told Sport Monitor in an interview that the competition was an opportunity for him to check his fitness level ahead of upcoming competitions.
