(In Gaborone, Botswana)
GABORONE – Eswatini sprinter Bongiwe Mahlalela has killed two birds with one stone.
This comes after she stormed to victory to claim gold and shattered the Commonwealth Games qualifying standard, lowering the required 24.24 seconds down to a blistering 24.12 seconds in the Senior Women’s 200m final.
The stellar performance took place at the CUCSA Games held in Gaborone, Botswana, which concluded yesterday. Eswatini returns home with a two-medal haul, both courtesy of Mahlalela, who also secured a bronze medal in the 100m sprint with a time of 12.39 seconds.
Mahlalela completely dominated the 200m final despite facing a tough -0.7 wind resistance, anchoring her position as the region’s top sprinter by beating out stiff competition from South Africa’s Emmarentia Germishuysen and Zimbabwe’s Rutendo Vushe, who rounded out the podium positions.
Reflecting on her double-medal success, Mahlalela could not hide her delight, noting that she was absolutely thrilled to have clocked the qualifying time for the Commonwealth Games. She mentioned that going into the 200m heats, her coach and her had a serious strategy talk where the mandate was clear that she had to go out there and win it. She added that the energy from day one was incredible with total backing from the ETISA board, her fellow athletes and everyone in camp, but locking down that qualifying standard in the final was the ultimate goal she was proud to execute.
Head Coach Hamilton Mhlanga praised the squad’s development, stating that performance-wise, the team executed brilliantly and rose to the occasion, which is exactly why they saw so many personal bests out there on the track. While he noted they were incredibly unlucky not to walk away with a heavier medal haul—missing out by a hair with three heartbreaking fourth-place finishes—the raw talent is undeniable.
Mhlanga emphasised that these athletes are fast learners and mostly first-year university students, arguing that if the nation invests heavily in them now, the podium finishes will follow just like global powerhouse countries that leverage university talent. He concluded that Mahlalela’s elite mindset was what unlocked her gold-medal result, alongside outstanding team discipline, seamless cohesion and vital backing from the executive.
Bongiwe Mahlalela (3rd from L), who scooped a gold and bronze for Team Eswatini during the CUCSA Games, with some of the athletes and officials. (Pic: Sanele Jele)