The Botswana marathon runners continued to struggle to dominate the Steinmetz Gaborone Marathon, which has become important to the country’s sport-tourism calendar. After the last editions had atleast one athlete making the top 10 finish, things were not so good for the locals runners as the country failed to produce a top 10 runner.

In a marathon that saw records tumble, it was Kenyans who dominated the race, taking home all the top three positions in the men’s race and first position in the ladies’ race. In a race that will much be largely remembered as a Kenyan affair, it was 35 year old Luka Chelimo who won the marathon, beating his fellow compatriots Ezikiel Tarus and Kennet Kipkemoi into second and third place respectively.

Chelimo ran an impressive 2 hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds to win the marathon, while Tarus and Kipkemoi came a minute and 32 seconds as well as a further 2 minutes and 16 seconds respectively behind the winner to complete the Kenyan total domination of the marathon. While things went well for the Kenyans, it was a different story all together for the Botswana athletes with best local runner coming 11th on the day.

As has been the case in the last two editions, Raobina Ramoseka finished ahead of local runners to continue his dominance on local athletes in the marathon. However, for the first time since the marathon started, Ramoseka found himself just falling off the top ten brackets. Meanwhile, Zimbabwean athlete Samukeliso Moyo’s reign at the top of the ladies category of the marathon was brought to an end by Peris Jepkorir of Kenya. Jepkorir clocked 2 hours 39 minutes and 31 seconds to win the women’s race with 22 year old Leena Ekandjo of Namibia and Moyo coming second and third respectively. Ekandjo completed the race in 2 hours 41 and 32 seconds while Moyo did it in 2 hours 42 minutes 33 seconds.

Meanwhile, despite not doing well in the main race, local runners did well in the race’s half marathon where Botswana’s duo of Godiraone Nthompe and Rapula Diphoko came first and second in the men’s race. The duo was followed on third by Namibia’s Simon Shipingana. The ladies half marathon was however won by Faithy Nyasango of Zimbabwe while Namibia’s Sarti Eishitile and Botswana’s Mema Tiango came second and third respectively.

Steinmetz Gaborone Marathon results

Men
1 Chelimo (Kenya) 2:15:25; 2 Tarus (Kenya) 2:16:57 PB; 3 Kipkemoi (Kenya) 2:17.41; 4 Gilbert Mutandiro (Zimbabwe) 2:17:55; 5 Thabo Ntlaloe (Lesotho) 2:19:33; 6 Daniel Kipchumba Komen (Kenya) 2:19:54; 7 Paulus Vilho (Namibia) 2:20:21; 8 Paul Motseloa (Lesotho) 2:20:38; 9 Leonard Kipkoech (Kenya) 2:21:21; 10 Kwawnni Myaihardt (Namibia) 2:21:34

Women
1 Jepkorir (Kenya) 2:39:31; 2 Ekandjo (Namibia) 2:41.32 PB; 3 Moyo (Zimbabwe) 2:42:33; 4 Anna Amutoko (Namibia) 2:49:13; 5 Lineo Chaka (Lesotho) 2:49:38; 6 Tabitha Tsatsa (Zimbabwe) 2:50:01; 7 Gladys Tarus (Kenya) 2:51:37; 8 Rachel Akukothela (Namibia) 2:54:06; 9 Helena Linpinge (Namibia) 3:06:07; 10 Moleboheng Mafata (Lesotho) 3:06.10

HALF MARATHON
Men
1 Nthompe (Botswana) 1:10:36; 2 Diphoko (Botswana) 1:10:39; 3 Shipingana (Namibia) 1:10:39; 4 Evans Odigi (Kenya) 1:10:42; 5 Boiphemelo Selagaboy (Botswana) 1:10:43; 6 Simeon Shiimi (Namibia) 1:11:10; 7 Goitsemang Mokgalagadi (Botswana) 1:11:54; 8 Dickson Batisane 1:12:18; 9 Goitsemodimo Magolotho (Botswana) 1:12:48; 10 Petrus Silas (Botswana) 1:12:59

Women
1 Nyasango (Zimbabwe) 1:20:00; 2 Eishitile (Namibia) 1:20:50; 3 Tiango (Botswana) 1:21:21; 4 Alicen Manake (Zimbabwe) 1:24:28; 5 Joyce tau (Botswana) 1:25:19; 6 Marea Maano (Botswana) 1:29:30; 7 Onneile Kealotswe (Botswana) 1:49.50; 8 Rosalie Lawrence (Botswana) 1:1;52.03; 9 Fi Hawkins (South Africa) 1:52:13; 10 Janine Daly (South Africa) 1:52:17

10KM
Men
1 Shephard Kenatshele (Botswana) 30:17; 2 Simbarashe Chikada (Zimbabwe) 30:20; 3 Rabson Chigara (Zimbabwe) 20:24; 4 Raymond Shamu (Zimbabwe) 31:28; 5 Johannes Skrywer (Namibia) 31:28; 6 Jeremiah Shaliavwe (Namibia) 31:36; 7 Uveni-Nawa Kuugongelwa (Namibia) 32.01; 8 Kelebuile Chaa (Botswana) 32:15; 9 Robert Kaxuxuena (Namibia) 32:21; 10Bojosi Olefile (Botswana) 33.02
Women
1 Helalia Johannes (Namibia) 32:34; 2 Olivia Chitate (Zimbabwe) 34.07; 3 Lavinia Haitope (Namibia) 34:19; 4 Alina Arumas (Namibia) 34:55; 5 Fortunate Chidzivo (Zimbabwe) 36:02; 6 Constance Nyasango (Zimbabwe) 36:22; 7 Kefilwe Galeitsiwe (Botswana) 38:32; 8 Neo Galekale (Botswana) 39:07; 9 Salmi Nduviteko (Namibia) 39:35; 10 Festus Tuuliki (Namibia) 41.05