Only the top 16 ranked teams and individuals in the world, in all athletics categories, will automatically qualify for the World Athletics Championships, which will be held in Budapest, Hungary in August of this year.
Botswana 4×4 females relay team, which has struggled in recent years, recently won the Kenya National Athletics Champion with a season-best time of 3.28.74, moving from 41st to 14th and making it into the top 16 of the qualifying bracket.
The ladies squad which comprised Thomphang Basele, Lydia Jele, Golekanye Chikani, and Obakeng Kamberuka, will have to maintain or exceed their time by attending all remaining athletics meets in order to avoid being overtaken by other countries on the cusp of qualifying.
The relay team joins the men’s 4X4 relay team and individual qualifiers such as Letsile Tebogo, Leungo Scotch, Bayapo Ndori, and Collen Kebinatshipi for the 400M race.
Oabone Theetso, Vice President of Botswana Athletics Association and mouth piece, stated in an interview that they are pleased with the girls’ performance and that it has been long delayed.
“This victory does not mean we should relax our guard because other teams may beat our time. Keep in mind, we are only two places ahead of qualifying.”
“In any case, we’re impressed with the girls’ performance,” Theetso added.
Theetso revealed that they expect more athletes to qualify looking at the times they have been registering on previous events.
“We only need to make sure that we participate in all upcoming events so that we can give other athletes a chance to participate and also for the ladies to improve their time and keep a steady position on the Budapest qualifying zone,” he concluded.
The athletes are only left with one event, the Kenya Athletics Trials next weekend and another athletics event in Europe.