The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) is preparing to leave a significant mark at the forthcoming World Relays in the Bahamas, as part of its concerted effort to secure coveted spots at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
With a roster abundant in talent and determination, Botswana is setting its sights on Olympic qualification across various relay races, marking a pivotal moment for the nation’s athletic aspirations.
Set to commence from May 4th until May 5th, the World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas, are poised to host a formidable gathering of 893 athletes from 54 nations, as confirmed by World Athletics. Amongst the fervent competition, Botswana stands resolute, with 32 teams entered for the men’s 4x100m, 30 for the women’s 4x100m, 32 for the men’s 4x400m, 27 for the women’s 4x400m, and 30 in the mixed 4x400m.
In a recent statement, World Athletics emphasised the significance of the World Relays as a platform for Olympic qualification. The organisation stated that Olympic qualifying places will be up for grabs on both days of action in The Bahamas. On the first day, World Athletics explained that the top two teams in each heat will advance to the final on day two, simultaneously securing their qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The World Athletics statement further elaborates that in the finals on day two, teams will vie for prize money and secure Olympic lane seeding positions. Additionally, it states that all other teams will compete on day two in the additional round, where the top two teams in each heat will also qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Echoing the sentiment of determination, Oabona Theetso, Vice President – Administration of the BAA, expressed unwavering commitment to Olympic qualification.
“We want to qualify for the Olympics and we are not negotiating,” Theetso stated emphatically in an interview with this publication. “Olympics is every athlete’s dream, we take the Olympics very seriously and want to qualify.”
Theetso underscored the indispensable role of the World Relays in the qualification process, affirming, “There is no team that is not qualified without competing at the World Relays.” For Botswana, participation in this global event is not merely an option but a requisite step towards realizing Olympic aspirations.
The roster representing Botswana at the World Relays comprises a blend of seasoned athletes and emerging talents. Among the men’s contingent are Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, Collen Kebinatshipi, Leungo Scotch, Zibane Ngozi, Anthony Pesela, Tumo Stagato Van Wyk, Boitumelo Masilo, Omphile Seribe, and Isaac Makwala. These athletes will vie for supremacy in the men’s 4x400m, with some also contributing to the mixed 4x400m relay.
On the women’s front, Botswana presents a formidable lineup, including Lydia Jele, Obakeng Kamberuka, Galefele Moroko, Tlhomphang Basele, Christine Botlogetswe, Kennekae Batisani, Motlatsi Rante, Refilwe Murangi, Nancy Budzani, and Golekanye Chikani. With aspirations set on the women’s 4x400m relay and the mixed relay, these athletes are poised to make their mark on the global stage.
Leading the Botswana team are coaches Justice Dipeba and Kebonyemodisa ‘Dose’ Mosimanyane. Their guidance will be instrumental in harnessing the potential of Botswana’s athletes and navigating the challenges of elite competition.
Despite the formidable competition awaiting them, Botswana remains undaunted. The men’s 4x400m event, in particular, promises to be fiercely contested, with powerhouses like the United States and Olympic champion Steven Gardiner’s Bahamas posing significant challenges. However, Botswana’s roster, boasting some of the fastest 400m athletes in the world this year, is primed to seize the opportunity and leave an indelible mark on the track.
In the mixed 4x400m relay, Botswana faces a similarly daunting landscape, with formidable adversaries such as the United States, Poland, the Netherlands, the Dominican Republic, and Great Britain. Yet, armed with resilience and determination as their allies, Botswana’s athletes are prepared to embrace the challenge and vie for Olympic qualification with unwavering tenacity.
In the women’s 4x400m relay, Botswana braces for fierce competition from reigning champions like the Netherlands, bolstered by the formidable presence of Femke Bol. However, Botswana’s athletes remain undeterred, fueled by their collective ambition to etch their names in the annals of Olympic history.
