The country brought home two gold medals and a bronze, finishing in fifth spot in the Championships. The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) had sent a team of 12 athletes. In honoring the champions, President Duma Boko declared September 29 a public holiday.
Kebinatshipi went into history books by becoming the first man from Botswana to be a World Champion, setting a new National Record (NR) of 43.53, which is the fastest time this season. Reacting to the historical achievement by the relay team, Ntshwarang said they banked on precision. “I knew that Kebinatshipi is a smart runner and I expected him to push until the finish line. The major lessons I picked from the Championships are that anything is possible in a major championship. We need to retain talent for every championship. We can match the world through proper planning,” Ntshwarang said. The lactic acid was burning, Tokyo rain pouring, when it seemed the gold medal was impossible, 21-year-old Busang Collen Kebinatshipi ran a fantastic leg to win the men’s 4x400m relay in 2:57.76. Botswana became the first African country to win the men’s 4x400m relay title. The quartet of Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, and Kebinatshipi proved their mettle in atrocious conditions on Sunday inside Japan National Stadium, edging out the United States and South Africa in a tight finish. The win meant a lot to Olympic champion Tebogo, following his 100m disqualification and a fourth-place finish in the 200m. Tebogo had put Botswana back level with the United States after making up ground on Jacory Patterson on the second leg with a super-fast split of 44.05.
