GABORONE, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Top athletes from the Southern Africa region on Sunday converged in the Botswana capital Gaborone for the Gaborone International Athletics Meet (GIM).
The event, held at the National Stadium, attracted athletes from as far as the Seychelles, Maldives, Mozambique as well as those from close neighbours Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho.
Botswana fielded strong athletes in the middle sprint events, and it was no surprise as the locals dominated most of the races.
Still celebrating a milestone achievement of 5 medals at the recent Commonwealth Games in Gold Cost, Botswana won gold in men's and women's 400m as well as the 200m and 110m hurdles.
Commonwealth 400m champion Amantle Montsho proved her mettle as one of the best in the African continent as she eased to gold with a time of 51.19s.
In the men's category, another Commonwealth Games medallist Isaac Makwala won gold in the 200m with a season best of 20.10s besting fierce competition from young Zimbabwean Sidney Siame.
In the women's 200m finals Christine Botlogetswe, also from Botswana got a gold and recorded a personal best in the event.
With the athletics season having just begun, most athletes were happy with their times as they prepare for the European athletics season as well as the IAAF Diamond league, due to start soon.
Some athletes also used the event to get qualifying times for the African Athletics Championships later this year.
Speaking to Xinhua at the end of the event, Glody Dube, the chairperson of the local Organizing Committee(LOC), said he was very happy with the turnout for the event.
He said the event is fully held under strict IAAF rules. Dube, a former 800m runner himself said he intends to grow the event to the standards of the IAAF Diamond league.
