The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) is taking strategic steps to broaden its pool of elite athletes for future international competitions, moving away from a heavy reliance on a few star performers.

BAA Sports Development Manager Patrick Moesi revealed that several athletes from the nation’s newly formed development squad were purposefully selected for the recent Commonwealth Games. The goal was to give up-and-coming talent early exposure to high-pressure, world-class competition.

For years, Botswana’s international athletics reputation has been sustained by standout performances from elite runners such as Letsile Tebogo, Collen Kebinatshipi, and Bayapo Ndori. However, Moesi acknowledged that while their podium finishes brought national pride, they also obscured the urgent need to build deeper squad bench strength.

Now back on home soil, the association is shifting its focus to technical refinement and targeted training for its secondary-tier athletes as they prepare for upcoming regional track and field events.

–ChannelAfrica–