Athletes impress at track and field event

Obed Itani Chilume Stadium was abuzz with excitement on Saturday as the cream of Botswana’s athletic talent gathered for the second Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) track and field event. The crowd erupted into a frenzy of cheers and applause when the country’s fastest runner, the world-renowned Tebogo Letsile, took to the track. The young superstar, whose face adorns the new limited-edition P50 commemorative banknote, did not disappoint either.

In the 100m senior men’s heat, Letsile left the competition in the dust, clocking an impressive 10.34 seconds. The stadium reverberated with thunderous applause as Letsile crossed the finish line, his arms raised in triumph. Tumo Wyk trailed him at 10.86 seconds.

But that was just the beginning. Letsile’s 200m dash was a masterclass and got the crowd on its feet as he stormed to victory, leaving rivals in his wake. “The showman” had delivered, and the spectators grinned from ear to ear at the display of supersonic speed and sheer power.The event also saw other notable athletes putting in impressive performances, including Leungo Scotch and Bayapo Ndori, who battled it out in the scorching heat.

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Ndori clocked 45.26 seconds in the 400m senior men, beating Kabelo Shabane’s 48.02 seconds. In the field events, Wame Kgosietsile’s 21.47 m throw in the under-18 women’s Javelin was a standout moment, while Tawana Tema’s 6.48 m leap in the men’s under-18 long jump earned him the top spot. BAA Vice President, Oabona Theetso hailed the event as a huge success despite no new international qualifications being set.

“Athletes are still rusty, but the youth are very impressive. The participation of athletes like Letsile, Ndori, and Scotch made the event truly special,” said Theetso. The BAA is gearing up for its next event, with a countrywide campaign underway to scout talent for international competitions.ENDS

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