The Orange Phikwe Marathon is no longer just a date on Botswana’s athletics calendar. Orange Botswana wants it to become a destination race.
That ambition took another step forward this weekend as a record 2,700 runners lined up in Selebi-Phikwe, underscoring the rapid growth of an event that is evolving into one of the country’s biggest sporting attractions.
Already recognised as a qualifying race for South Africa’s iconic Comrades Marathon, the Orange Phikwe Marathon is now targeting a larger regional and international footprint. For organisers, the goal is clear: transform the race from a successful domestic event into a road-running fixture capable of attracting elite and recreational athletes from across Africa and beyond.
Speaking at the marathon’s appreciation dinner on Friday, Orange Botswana Chief Executive Officer Nene Maïga revealed that participation had reached an all-time high. She also announced an increased prize purse of P268,000, a move designed to strengthen the event’s competitive profile and attract deeper fields in future editions.
For Orange, however, the marathon’s value extends beyond the finish line.
The women’s race produced one of the day’s most popular results as local athlete Kefilwe Galeitsiwe claimed victory in front of a home crowd. Kitso Joseph finished second to earn P18,000, while Rudo Mhonderwa took third place and collected P13,000.
“Our long-term vision is to transform the Orange Phikwe Marathon into an internationally recognised event,” said Orange Botswana Public Relations and Communications Manager Tebogo Nadisah.
According to Nadisah, the company sees the marathon as part of a broader effort to stimulate economic activity in Selebi-Phikwe, create opportunities for small businesses and contribute to the town’s ongoing revival.
The race has also become a platform for Orange’s community initiatives. Alongside the marathon, the company continues to support schools in and around Selebi-Phikwe through donations of laptops, tablets and other digital learning tools aimed at improving access to technology and digital literacy.
On the road, familiar names once again dominated the headlines.
Kenya’s Lazarus Too successfully defended his men’s full marathon crown, crossing the finish line in 2:20:09 to secure first place and a P30,000 winner’s cheque. Fellow Kenyan Amos Kemboi finished second, while Israel Mudimba completed the podium. Too’s winning time was well outside the blistering 2:03:04 he recorded last year, but the defending champion insisted the challenge was greater this time around.
“This race was tougher than last year, but I remained focused throughout,” Too said. “Preparation and discipline helped me overcome the difficult moments.”
The 35-year-old credited months of training and mental preparation for helping him retain the title.
The women’s race produced one of the day’s most popular results as local athlete Kefilwe Galeitsiwe claimed victory in front of a home crowd. Kitso Joseph finished second to earn P18,000, while Rudo Mhonderwa took third place and collected P13,000.
The growing participation numbers, increased prize money and rising presence of international athletes point to a race moving steadily in the right direction.
