As the World Athletics Relays draw near, Botswana is focused on both defending its coveted title and securing qualification for the prestigious World Athletics Championships, scheduled for September 13th to 21st in Tokyo, Japan. The senior national relay team has been diligently preparing in a Francistown camp before their departure for Guangzhou, China, this coming Saturday for final acclimatization ahead of the World Relays, taking place from May 10th to 11th.
Botswana’s relay teams are determined to make a significant impact at the World Athletics Relays, prioritizing qualification for the Tokyo championships while upholding their esteemed reputation on the global athletics stage. Their performances in Guangzhou will be crucial in determining their participation in Tokyo and solidifying their position as world-class contenders in the sport.
The relay events at the World Relays encompass five disciplines: the men’s and women’s 4x100m, men’s and women’s 4x400m, and the mixed 4x400m. With 32 teams competing in each discipline, the top 14 teams will automatically secure qualification for the World Championships in Tokyo.
Last year in Nassau, Bahamas, Botswana’s men’s 4x400m relay team captured global attention by winning gold with a world-leading time of 2:59.11 at the World Relays. This historic victory marked their first relay gold medal, adding to their previous silver (2017) and bronze (2021) achievements. The team aims to defend their title this year, while the women’s and mixed relay teams are striving to improve upon their 2024 performances, where they finished fifth and fourth, respectively.
The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) has nominated a strong contingent of athletes for the relay teams, with the final team roster expected to be announced this Friday. The nation will be represented in four disciplines: men’s 4x100m, women’s 4x400m, men’s 4x400m, and mixed 4x400m.
The provisional list for the defending men’s 4x400m champions includes formidable athletes such as Letsile Tebogo, Lee Eppie, Busang Kebinatshipi, Bayapo Ndori, Victor Ntweng, Oratile Justice, Kabo Rankgwe, and Leungo Scotch. Demonstrating individual excellence this season, some team members have already recorded impressive times, with the team holding a season-best of 3:04.52.
Key athletes within the squad include Letsile Tebogo, an explosive sprinter renowned for competing against top athletes like Noah Lyles. Tebogo has clocked impressive 400m times around 45.26 seconds. Bayapo Ndori currently boasts a season-best of 44.35 seconds in the 400m, having set a world-leading time of 44.59 seconds in March at the South Africa Grand Prix and also clocking 45.14 seconds in Australia. Busang Kebinatshipi has shown strong form with a season-best of 44.53 seconds, finishing third at the Xiamen Diamond League. Veteran Leungo Scotch, despite a slower start to the season, has recorded competitive times of 45.36 and 45.60 seconds. The men’s 100m contingent features stars like Tebogo, Oratile Justice, Karabo Mothibi, Thabang Monngathipa, and Larona Mayana, with a collective season-best of 40.47 seconds.
In a brief interview, BAA Vice President Oabona Theetso emphasized that the primary objectives are to reach the finals and secure qualification for the World Championships. “Beyond that, we are aiming to defend our title, and it is crucial that we perform well at the relays as it will generate excitement for the nation and the team ahead of us hosting the same competition next year in Gaborone,” concluded Theetso, adding that a ten-member delegation will travel to China for a benchmarking mission in preparation for hosting the World Athletics Relays in 2026.
