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Sponsorless-Lefika Cross Country race defies odds

Winner: Olefile Keoagile of UB Athletics Club. PIC:KENNEDY RAMOKONE
Winner: Olefile Keoagile of UB Athletics Club. PIC:KENNEDY RAMOKONE

KOPONG: Dozens of cross country runners converged in Kopong for the annual Lefika Cross Country Championship to kick off the 2025 athletics season.

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.

Maitumelo Mosadikwena of BDF Athletics Club won the senior women's race with a time of 39:27.16 while second position went to Kefilwe Galeitsewe of Lion’s Den in 41:14.92 with Boikhutso Bakha settling for third position, clocking 41:28.64. Gloria Makamane of Moroka Athletics Club who finished in second position with a time of 18:38.51 in the youth girls category, said the race went according to plan. She said during the festive season break, she was busy training to prepare for the new season. The 15-year-old said she is also a 100m and 200m runner with a dream of seeing herself as one of the best athletes in the country. For his part, youth boys category winner, Bakang Mpunang, of BDF Athletics Club, who clocked 22:11.20 said after completing his Form Five, he started training. Mpunang said his coach gave him a programme to follow, which he did hence his brilliant performance. “I enjoy long distance running; it is something I intend doing as a professional athlete. The course was not heavy unlike the previous course, which was tough to deal with. In terms of competition, they did not push me the way I expected,” Mpunang said.

Meanwhile, Lefika Athletics Club spokesperson, Charles Keikotlhae, told SportMonitor that the event was a qualifier for the National Cross Country Championship and the World Athletics Road Running to be held in San Diego in September. “The cross country is a build up to the Lefika International Relays set for March 29 in Gaborone. Six countries have confirmed participation. CAA Southern Region has promised to assist us in making the event a success. They believe that our relays can assist many athletes in the continent to qualify for the World Athletics Relays. Regarding cross country, we did not have sponsorship. It was a struggle, even water for athletes was a challenge. We expected a medical team to be around but they cancelled last minute,” he said.

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