Moorosi Tsiane
THE Lesotho Athletics Amateur Association (LAAA) have expressed disappointment over the poor showing of the country’s athletes at the recent Comrades Marathon in South Africa where only one of them secured a top ten finish.
Lesotho was represented by the Lebopo brothers Mabothile and Warinyane; Lebohang Mahlane, Raletebele Sootho, Mpesela Ntlo-Tšoeu and Teboho Sello.
The latter was the only one to finish in the top 10 after clocking 5:47:02 on his way to finishing seventh.
LAAA spokesperson, Sejanamane Maphathe said it was worrying that the local runners were declining instead of improving in big events.
“This is one of the races which has never been won by a Lesotho athlete and we were hoping that this time one of our runners would win given their experience,” Maphathe said.
“But unfortunately, that did not happen and instead the performances are declining now that we even fail to have a single athlete in the top three.
“Our athletes had a good chance of winning because it was the favourable up run terrain this year.”
Maphathe said it seemed local athletes were going around in circles and repeating their failings.
“They (athletes) are aging: most of them are now in their late 30s,” Maphathe said, adding, the biggest challenge was poor preparations due in part to poor coaching.
“Kenyans have been dominating in marathons and it is time our runners looked for good coaches who can help them.
“We can’t keep going in circles, repeating the same things but expecting different results.”
The race was won by Bongmusa Mthembu of South Africa with Zimbabwean, Hatiwande Nyemande finishing second.
2015 winner Gift Kelehe of South Africa finished third.