07 Apr 2025

Botswana’s runner, Tshepiso Masalela has qualified for the Tokyo 2025 World Championships in the 1 500m event.

Masalela, clocked a time of 3.30.72 at the Cape Milers Club SA Grand Prix meeting on Friday, beating his Personal Best time of 3.35.26 he registered last month.

Oratile Nowe also smashed her 800m National Record, clocking 1.59.22 obliterating the 1:59.46 she set last month, while in 800m, Kethobogile Haingura dominated the field, as he came first with a time of 1:44.00, Tumo Nkape finished second with a Personal Best time of 1.44.60, while Letlhogonolo Mokgethi finished fourth with a PB of 1:45.89. Meanwhile, South Africa coach, Samuel Sepeng said he had seen some improvements in some athletes who were now under his tutelage.

He said his conversation with the athletes was to take inspiration from Glody Dube and Nijel Amos, adding that the country had a lot of talent in the middle distance runners, which needed to be natured.

He said Botswana’s future in the middle distance runners looked bright, adding that he was confident that they would soon win a medal at major championships.

“The performance of Batswana athletes is the same performance happening in Europe, in America, anywhere you can go in the world, so they are in a performance of what was happening in the world,” he said.

Meanwhile, Collen Kebinatshipi clocked a time of 45.15 to finish in position four at the Grand Slam Track event in Kingston Jamaica on Saturday.

Initially, Kebinatshipi finished in position five but was then moved to position four after Zandrion Barnes of Jamaica, who had finished in position four, was disqualified for lane infringement.

On Sunday morning, Kebinatshipi finished sixth with a time of 21.08 in the final one, which was won by Matthew Hudson-Smith of Great Britain with 20.77.

Meanwhile athletes were divided into six event groups for each Slam, with long sprints competing in the 200m and 400m and earning points on the two results.

In that regard, Kebinatshipi earned five points in 400 meters and three in 200 metres to make it eight points and he was ranked sixth. ENDS