JAC DOMINATES LEFIKA INTERNATIONAL RELAYS
JWANENG Athletics Club emerged as the overall victors of last weekend’s Lefika International Relays, which took place at the National Stadium.
The club went home with six gold medals and two silver medals across all 10 relay categories.
At least 27 clubs, as well as some local schools, registered for the event in various categories, including youth (U18) running a medley relay, junior (U20) competing in 4x100m, 4x400m, mixed 4x400m, and senior 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m, mixed 4x400m, and 4x800m.
JAC, as they are called, seemed to be better prepared for competition, winning nearly all of the races they competed in. The club won the junior men’s and women’s U20 4x100 relay, boys’ and girls’ U18 medley relay, women’s 4x200m relay, and men’s 4x800 relay. However, the team was defeated by Botswana in two events: 4x100m relay in both the men and women categories.
Hot on their heels was Francistown Athletics Club, who are gradually becoming a force to be reckoned with in track and field this season. The club won two races, the U20 mixed 4x400 and the U20 4x400m women, and came second in two other races, the medley relay and the U20 4x400 men.
The hosts, Lefika Athletics Club (LAC), settled for a third place after winning two silver medals and one bronze medal.
The relays also served as qualifiers for the World Athletic Relays to be held in the Bahamas next month from the 4th to the 5th. Unfortunately, team Botswana could not qualify and the event did not meet one of the required qualifying conditions. Even though they registered qualifying times, the rules of the game are that for one to qualify, more than one country must compete in the event.
In a brief interview with Voice Sport, Vice Chairperson of LAC, Collar Masimakoko, said despite financial challenges, they were happy with the progress the competition has made. “My team showed their true mettle. Despite losing some athletes to team Botswana, we still put up a strong challenge,” he said.
Masimakoko also commended local athletics clubs for taking part in the competition and making the event one to look forward to every year.