The Diacore Gaborone Marathon is a marathon in

Gaborone Gaborone ( , , ) is the capital and largest city of Botswana with a population of 246,325 based on the 2022 census, about 10% of the total population of Botswana. Its agglomeration is home to 421,907 inhabitants at the 2011 census. Gaboron ...

Botswana Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label= Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalaha ...

. The marathon is governed by the

International Association of Athletics Federations World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation (from 1912 to 2001) and International Association of Athletics Federations (from 2001 to 2019, both abbreviated as the IAAF) is the international governing body fo ...

and the Botswana Athletics Association. It is open for to ages 19 and up, and the race is a qualifier for the

Comrades Marathon The Comrades Marathon is an ultramarathon of approximately which is run annually in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race. The direc ...

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

and Pietermaritzburg,

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

, and the

2012 Olympic Marathon 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length Le ...

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

. The marathon is the second of its kind in Botswana, after the Bosele Marathon in

Selebi-Phikwe Selebi-Phikwe (also spelt ''Selibe Phikwe'') is a mining town located in the Central District of Botswana. It had a population of 42,488 in 2022. The town is an administrative district, separate from the surrounding Central District. Mining ...

History

The marathon was first established as the Gaborone City Marathon in 2009 and was first run on 18 April 2010. The 2011 race was cancelled due to financial issues. In 2012,

Steinmetz Diamonds Steinmetz/Steynmets is a German surname, meaning 'stonemason'. It may refer to: People * Ádám Steinmetz (born 1980), Hungarian water polo player * Andrew Steinmetz (born 1965), Canadian writer * Barnabás Steinmetz (born 1975), Hungarian water p ...

became the official sponsor of the marathon and renamed the marathon. The 2020 edition of the race was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Route

The race begins at 6:15am and ends at the

Phakalane Golf Estate Phakalane is a suburb in Botswana situated a few kilometers from the capital city Gaborone. It is 12.5 km north of the city centre via the A1 road. It is a commercial and residential area, which has experienced significant growth and develop ...

several miles northeast of Gaborone. The race moves along the A1 highway towards the city center before turning northwest towards the Steinmetz building. The route then travels south towards the

Gaborone Central Business District Gaborone ( , , ) is the capital and largest city of Botswana with a population of 246,325 based on the 2022 census, about 10% of the total population of Botswana. Its agglomeration is home to 421,907 inhabitants at the 2011 census. Gaboron ...

, passing the SADC headquarters and the

Orapa House Orapa is a town located in the Central District of Botswana. It is the site of the Orapa diamond mine, the largest diamond-producing mine in the world, and is considered to be the diamond capital of the country. Nearby is another kimberlite mi ...

. The track then moves northward towards the

Gaborone Private Hospital Gaborone ( , , ) is the capital and largest city of Botswana with a population of 246,325 based on the 2022 census, about 10% of the total population of Botswana. Its agglomeration is home to 421,907 inhabitants at the 2011 census. Gaboron ...

before rejoining the A1 highway. The marathon retraces its steps back towards the Phakalane Golf Estate where the marathon ends. Water is provided every . The race starts at above sea level and has a maximum elevation of above sea level.

Fun Run

There is also a race open for ages 12 and up and a race open to all. These routes are entirely within the Phakalane Golf Estate.

Results

The male and female winner of the marathon receives 25,000 Botswana pula (US$3,325 at the time of the 2012 race), second place receives P15,000, third receives P10,000, and fourth receives P5,000. The fastest male and female Botswana citizen will receive P10,000 from BIHL Insurance Company. The top three runners, Felix Kipkoror, Benjamin Kipro Serem, and Jobo Khatoane, in the 2012 race qualified for the

References

{{Reflist

External links

Official websiteResults of the 2012 MarathonRoute Map
Marathons in Botswana Athletics competitions in Botswana Recurring sporting events established in 2009 April sporting events 2009 establishments in Botswana Sport in Gaborone