The national team went into camp yesterday as they prepare for the upcoming 2022 CAA Africa Senior Championships slated for Mauritius this month. The 2020 championships were to be held in Algeria but were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Botswana will join the rest of the continent for the athletics showpiece to be held from June 8-12 at the Côte d’Or National Sports Complex. Mauritius has previously hosted two editions of the African Championships in 1992 and 2006.
The men's squad is led by some of the country's fastest athletes, including Letsile Tebogo who recently ran 9.96 in the 100m, which was initially deemed to be an Under-20 world record, before it was nullified this week. Anthony Pesela (400m) and the upcoming talented Collen Kebinatshipi (400m) are also part of the team. Tokyo 2020 Olympics 4x400m men’s relay team bronze medallists, Bayapo Ndori and Zibane Ngozi have qualified for the championships. Olympic Games semi-finalist, Leungo Scotch is in the team and will run the 400m. The women’s team has, among others, Tsaone Sebele and Loungo Matlhaku who will both represent the country in the 100m and 200m races. Olympian, Christine Botlogetswe will run her favourite one lap. She has a personal best (PB) of 50.48 and a season’s best (SB) of 53.66. Lydia Jele made a strong comeback after four years of absence by qualifying for the championships.
