13 Mar 2025

Botswana’s 400m runner, Bayapo Ndori, has qualified for the 2025 World Athletics Championships to be held on September 13-21 in Tokyo, Japan.
Ndori finished first with a World Leading time of 44.59, at the ASA Grand Prix 1, in Pretoria, South Africa on Wednesday.
His training partner, Letsile Tebogo finished second, with a Season Best time of 45.42, Leungo Scotch and Tumo Van Wyk claimed position five and seven with 45.57 and 47.09 respectively.
 In the women’s 800m, Oratile Nowe demonstrated her fine form as she punched the National Record time of 1:59.69 behind South African Prudence Sekgodiso who stopped the clock at 1:59.01.
 Botswana continued to dominate other races as Ketlhobogile Haingura recorded a Season Best Time of 1:44.87, while Tumo Nkape claimed position two in 1:49.49, and Letlhogonolo Mokgethi claimed position three with 1:46.54.
In 3000m, Tshepiso Masalela was in a class of his own, as he opened his season with a Personal Best time of 7:58.99. Botswana’s duo of Victor Ntweng and Kemorena Tisang continued to make hurdles fashionable in the country, as Ntweng finished in position two with 49.46 while Tisang came third with 50.82.
In the women’s 400m, Galefele Moroko returned to the track with a time of 55.09, finishing in position one, while Justice Oratile settled for position two, with a Personal Best time of 46.57 in the men’s 400m heat one.
In 100m, Mothusi Boitshwarelo and Rebeilwe Thwanyane finished in position six and eight with 10.64 and 10.71 respectively, while Winnie Sarefo finished eighth with 12.38.
The local athletes’ performance did not go unnoticed.
 The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) vice president, Oabona Theetso, said the performance has made a strong case for Botswana’s bid as to host the 2026 World Relays.
 “We are happy with their performance, as they continue to be good ambassadors for the country. They never disappoint,” he said.
Theetso said Ndori’s qualification for the World Championships and Nowe’s National Record time demonstrated that the coaches are hard at work.
 “Our athletes have stamped their authority to say Botswana is a country that continues to do well in athletics,” he said. ENDS