Course measuring is a technical field in athletics that only a few individuals in Botswana have found a niche in. After hanging his running shoes, Sir Seretse Khama Barracks-based, Wilson Ntlogelang decided to follow his passion of being a course measurer. He started off doing a certificate course but he has now achieved a huge milestone after being graded as a World Athletics C Grade marker. It means he can be invited to do races in Southern African countries, which he believes is a dream that will soon come true. In other countries, course measurers, ride motorcycles but for him, Ntlogelang rides a bicycle using a World Athletics-approved tool called Jones Counter to measure the course. Ntlogelang told MmegiSport this week that being graded by World Athletics is a big achievement and it tells him that he has started the journey, because there are two more grades ahead (B Grade and A Grade). He added that he has more work to do because the moment he reaches B Grade he can start doing course measuring for international races.
He explained that the journey started in 2018 when Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) invited affiliates to send individuals for a week-long course under Course Measuring and he was part of the 10 attendees representing BDF Athletics Club. “I am motivated by this achievement. As you can see, this is a unique role but there are some few individuals who are interested in doing it such as Collen Dube, Molatelela Bosupeng, Mokenti Letsoma, Tina Mekgwe, amongst others,” he said. Ntlogelang was born in Francistown, did his primary education at Nyamambisi, proceeded to Shangano Junior Secondary School and completed his senior secondary education at McConnel College in Tutume in 2004. He said his interest in athletics started when he joined Botswana Defence Force (BDF) in 2007, because during fitness activities he was always the best, finishing ahead of his regiment. “One day, Retired Warrant Officer, Steven Isa advised me to join BDF Athletics Club in 2009, I was supposed to go there and compete with active athletes. I did not even waste time, I became a member until today. I was a long distance runner doing 21 kilometres and 42 kilometres. I competed in all the major races in Botswana such as Diacore Gaborone marathon, Orange Phikwe marathon and I also took part in Cross Country Series and the BDF Formations. Distance runners such as Rapula Diphoko, Sesebo Matlapeng, and Godiraone Nthomphe know me. I used to terrorise them,” he said.
