Mosah Mokganedi
11 March 2008
Onalenna Baloyi and Kgalalelo Sefu have qualified to represent Botswana in the African Athletics Championships to be held next month in Ethiopia.
The two made the cut after doing well at the ongoing senior athletics Euro Page Series in South Africa.
Baloyi finished second in 800m while Sefu got the same position in 400m. Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) used the competition as a qualifier.
BAA sent a strong team of 15 athletes to the event in Pretoria. Other upcoming Botswana athletes who took part in the competition are award-winning Amuchilani Tumelo, Seonyatseng Nthomphe, Zacharia Kamberuka, Goitsemodimo Dikinya and Pako Seribe.
Bobby Gaseitsiwe of BAA said athletes were selected based on their performance in the last three track and field events.
He added that besides the exposure they got in Pretoria, the athletes' performance was very impressive. He said they intend to give athletes more exposure. He said they sent a young team to South Africa as part of their grass roots development initiative.
Gaseitsiwe was delighted that this time they were able to send an increased number of female athletes to an international event.
"It is our desire to see female athletes increasing especially at high level competitions," he said. However, he regretted that the athletes could not participate in all the stages of the competition due to insufficient funds.
Baloyi and Sefu will join the 4 x 4 relay team, California Molefe (400m), Gakologelwang 'Shoes' Masheto (400m), long jumper Gable Garenamotse, Amantle Montsho (400m) and Kabelo Kgosiemeng (high jump) who have already booked their place at the Africa championship.
Gaseitsiwe said they will continue to send athletics for more qualifiers before the Africa event.
Athletes have three more tournaments to try to qualify. These are international permit meetings in Mauritius, Namibia and Botswana.
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