There were no home comforts for local long-distance runners as international runners dominated at the just ended Orange Phikwe National marathon.
This past weekend in Selebi-Phikwe, it was all about Namibian runners as they won both the male and female categories of the 42.2km race. The male category was won by Matheus Jesaya while Mweshamekange Indileni won the women category.
Following the recent successes of locals in the race, more especially during the last edition in 2019 when Rapula Diphoko won, it was back to default settings as locals were shown a clear pair of heels.
In the absence of defending champion Diphoko, Jesaya won the men’s race in 2 hours 17 minutes and 35 seconds. Second position went to Zimbabwe’s Lyno Muchena who arrived just less than two minutes after Jesaya with a time of 2 hours 19 minutes and 14 seconds.
Botswana was however not all left out as Goadiraone Nthompe finished third, missing on second position by a mere 27 seconds behind runner up Muchena. Nthompe, who was one of the three locals to finish in the top 10 of the men’s 42.2km category completed the course in 2 hours 19 minutes and 41 seconds.
The other two locals who made the top 10 in the men’s category are Kabo Jenamo and Dikgakgamatso Modisagape. The two runners finished in positions 6 and 8 respectively.
In the men’s 21.1km category, Kenyan runner Sila Kiptoo emerged the winner. He finished the half marathon race in 1 hour 4 minutes and 42 seconds. He was followed by Sesebo Matlapeng in second position while Othusitse Gabolwele finished third.
The women’s half marathon category was an all-Batswana affair which was dominated by BDF Athletics Club. The trio of Gaone Bathoeng, Mantshapelo Badumetse and Mema Tiango, all from BDF Athletics club finished in positions 1, 2 and 3 respectively.
Bathoeng was however the most dominant of the trio as she completed the race in 1 hour 21 minutes and 30 seconds. Badumetse finished more than six minutes after her, clocking 1 hour 28 minutes and 2 seconds, while Tiango finished in 1 hour 40 minutes and 19 seconds.
Meanwhile, the winners of the marathon, both male and female, walked away P25 000 richer. The marathon has Orange Botswana as is title sponsor. Other partners include the Selibe Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU) and the Selibe Phikwe Town Council.
