Team Botswana left for the Championships on the 13th August 2021 with nothing but dreams and the drive to do the best that they can at the competition. They returned home on the 24th August 2021 as heroes who brought hope and joy to the nation at large.
The Botswana Athletics Association sent a contingent of eighteen (18) people which include thirteen (13) Athletes and five (5) Officials. Before leaving for the Championships the team was hard at work in isolation in a camp and also had a chance to get Covid -19 vaccine. The team comprised of the following athletes; Boitshepisi Kelapile (the only female competitor from Botswana), Letsile Tebogo, Jayson Mandoze, Godiraone K. Lobatlamang, Lundi Pinaemang, Allison Kenosi, Tumo Lesesere, Anthony Pesele, Oreeditse Masede, Thusoyaone Gabanatlhong, Busang Collen Kebinatshipi, Abofelo Leitseng and Phenyo Majama. The Team officials wereas follows; Team Manager - Mr Mpho Malema Bagwasi, Coach- Mr. Chilume Ntshwarang, Assistant Coach-Mr. Meleko Ndolo, Massage Therapist-Mr Kabo Kabelo Molefe, Team Medic/Covid19 Liason Officer- Aldrin Nchidzi Majaye.
Team Botswana was in action on day one of the competition with the only Female representative taking to the tracks in the woman’s 100m heats. Unfortunately, Boitshepisi took position 7 in heat 1 of 100m. She clocked a Season Best time of 12.16s. She did not proceed to the semi-finals and her journey at the competition came to an end abruptly. Letsile Tebogo qualified for the semi-finals with a time of 10.22 in position 1 of the men's 100m heat 3, followed by Jayson Mandoze who attained position 5 with a time of 10.65s in the men's round 1 of 100m heats. His time was enough to see him proceed to the next round. Anthony Pesela finished in Position 1 of the Men’s 400m heat 2 with a Personal Best time of 45.88. He earned a place in the finals. In the afternoon Session of Day 1, Tebogo Letsile set a new National Record on his way to the Finals in the men's 100m Semi-final with a time of 10.11. Unfortunately, Jason Mandoze failed to make it to the finals of the men’s 100m finishing in position 6 with a time of 10.54.
On Day 2 there was only one competitor from Team Botswana, Letsile Tebogo who was in the men’s 100m finals. Tebogo did not disappoint the nation of Botswana who were eagerly awaiting the finals and burning up social media with their messages of support. He blasted to position 1 with a time of 10:19 to give Botswana its first ever Gold medal in 100m.
Letsile Tebogo had the busiest schedule at the competition as he was in action on Day 3 in the men’s 200m heats. Jayson Mandoze also joined him. Tebogo continued his good run when he qualified for the 200m semi-finals. He cemented his place in the finals of the Men's 200m with a personal best time of 20.31 in the afternoon session. Unfortunately, Jayson Manzode did not get the chance to go further as he was disqualified for a false start.
Day four (4) brought a flurry of activities for team Botswana as the Men’s 4x400m, 4x100m, 200m Men’s Finals and 400m
Men’s Finals were scheduled for the day. The results of day four (4) brought unimaginable joy for the athletes competing and Batswana in general. Day 4 also brought with it angst and heartbreak for some competitors and Batswana as we saw the 4* 100m relay team get disqualified for a false start. The 4* 400m relay team qualified for the Finals in position 3 in their heat. Anthony Pesela’s race brought people to their feet as he outran his competitors to a gold medal in men's 400m with a Championships Record of 44.58. His run means that he has qualified for the Oregon22 World Athletics Championships. His Gold medal took the tally of Gold medals to two for Botswana.
Letsile Tebogo won a silver medal in the finals of the men’s 200m, winning Botswana’s third medal of the competition. His competition schedule came to an end with the medal.
Day five (5) brought the World Athletics Under 20 Championships to a wrap on 22nd August 2021. Team Botswana’s 4x400m was scheduled to take part in the Finals which were the very last activity of the whole competition. Botswana sent the following athletes in this running order; Collen Kebinatshipi started the race then handed over to Anthony Pesela on 2nd leg, 3rd leg Oreeditse Masede and lastly Phenyo Majama on the final leg to sum it up. The quartet was on fire as they powered up to position 1 and claimed a Gold medal with a World Leading time of 3.05.22.
Team Botswana made history by being in the top 10 of the medals table, being number 7 with 3 Gold medals and 1 silver medal out of 110 teams that took part in the World Athletics Under 20 Championships. The team that competed at the 2021 championship has set a standard for the upcoming Junior teams and the hope is that they will take inspiration from what this team did and go far and beyond. Team Botswana arrived Back in Botswana in the morning of the 24th August 2021.