The event did not have a sponsor and there was no prize money for the winners. The competition was divided into different categories being the youth girls and boys 6km, junior women 6km, junior men 8km while senior men and women competed in the 10km. A lot of attention was on the senior men 10km race that had some of the best long distance runners in the country. It had Dikgakgamatso Mosimanegape, Sesebo Matlapeng and Rapula Diphoko, who were favourites to win. However, there was a surprise winner in Olefile Keoagile of the University of Botswana Athletics Club.
He stopped the clock in 32:27.60 with Thapelo Galeboe also from the same club finishing second in 32:57.25 and Matlapeng crossing the line with a time of 33:07.22. Speaking to SportMonitor, Keoagile said he prepared for the event by working a lot on long distance running and hilly sessions. He observed that the course was a bit challenging on the back straight but he was able to handle it due to the preparations he had. “The competition was good, even the way they pushed me, it was an indication that they were also in good shape. I improved a lot in terms of the time that I recorded looking at the previous cross country events I competed in; this was my best. My plan for this season is to push middle distance running time, especially 1, 500 metres and 5, 000 metres. I was using this event to prepare myself for the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) National Cross Country Championship scheduled for next Sunday in Serowe,” Keoagile said.
