The event will also serve as a qualifier for international competitions such as Commonwealth Games, World Athletics Championships, and the Olympics. However, the event goes ahead in the absence of 800m runner, Nijel Amos who pulled out of the race citing personal reasons. Speaking to Mmegi Sport, GIM organiser, Glody Dube said preparations are at an advanced level. “The stage is set for tomorrow and the majority of the athletes have arrived in Gaborone. Of course, we had wished to have Amos running on home soil after a long time but unfortunately, things did not go according to plan.
We will now proceed without him,” he said. Dube said GIM would allow local athletes to compete with the best in the world as in most instances some of them do not get the chance to travel overseas for competitions.
He said as organisers they would like to see GIM turn into a huge success so that the race can be promoted to another World Athletics category either silver or gold next year. The men’s 100m is a battlefield for fast legs bringing together Letsile Tebogo (Botswana), Stephen Abosi (Botswana), Ngoni Makusha (Zimbabwe), Arthur Cisse (Ivory Coast), Bruintjies Henricho (South Africa), Gift Leotlela (South Africa), Solomon Bockarie (Netherlands) and Sitale Kakene. The women’s 100m heat is also expected to produce fireworks led by Namibians Christian Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi. Botswana is pinning hopes on Boitshepiso Kelapile and Tsaone Sebele.
The strong field also has BoipeloTshemese (South Africa), Quincy Malikani (Zambia), Hellen Makumba (Zambia), and Mitchell Zuze (Zimbabwe.)
