Ten athletes set for Boksburg

MASERU -The Lesotho Amateur Athletics Association (LAAA) is sending a team of 10 athletes to the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Southern Region Youth and Junior Championships in Boksburg, South Africa, next month in efforts to qualify them for the All Africa Games and IAAF World Championships later this year.
The squad is made up of four men and six women.

It includes Mosito Lehata, Lerato Sechele and ‘Mamakoli Senauoane who have already qualified for September’s All Africa Games in Morocco but are yet to qualify for the World Championships which will be held in Doha, Qatar in September and October.
Speaking to thepost on Wednesday, LAAA spokesperson Sejanamane Maphathe said the association is hoping the athletes travelling to Boksburg next month can book their spots at the All Africa Games and World Championships.

Motlokoa Nkhabutlane and ‘Neheng Khatala have already qualified for the World Championships in the marathon and Maphathe said the LAAA would like more athletes to join them.
“I am not sure about the dates but we have already selected a team that will represent the country at the Southern Region Championships (in Boksburg),” Maphathe said.
“We would be happy if they can qualify for the All Africa Games and the World Championships. If they do not qualify in South Africa there is still a chance for them to qualify (later) but then that will depend on the qualifying events and where they are. But we are hoping they can all qualify. It is not only about the All Africa Games but the World Championships as well. So far only two athletes have qualified (for the World Championships), Motlokoa Nkhabutlane and ‘Neheng Khatala.”
2016 Olympian, Tšepang Sello, will take part in the 800 and 1 500 metre races in Boksburg and she has been busy competing on the varsity athletics circuit in South Africa this year.
Maphathe said Sello is in good shape and is one of the athletes the LAAA hopes will make it to Morocco’s All Africa Games.
“Tšepang has been doing well in the varsity games,” Maphathe said.

“Mokulubete Makatise is trying; she has been doing really well. Last week she was in Botswana where she won the Gaborone Half Marathon. Phomolo Lekhooa is doing his best as well,” he added.
“For the All Africa Games, so far we have only three athletes (Lehata, Sechele and Senauoane) that have qualified. They are going to South Africa as part of their preparations and they will also have a chance to qualify for World Championships.”

Team Lesotho for Southern Region Youth & Junior Championships:

Men

Phomolo Lekhooa (100m)
Mosito Lehata (100m)
Tšepo Ramashamole (400m)
Badboy Toka (5000m)

Women

‘Mathapelo Molapo (100m)
‘Mamakoli Senauoane (200m and 400m)
Mokulubete Makatise (5 000m and 1 500m)
Tšepang Sello (800m and 1 500m)
‘Mamananya Tšoanamatsie (5 000m)
Lerato Sechele (Triple and long jump)

Tlalane Phahla