A Machache born athlete Tsotang Maine has added yet another gold medal in his cabinet after snatching away the Southern Region 21.1kilometre road race in Maseru on Saturday.

Maine, at his mid 30's said the race was not easy as it was hilly and got a stiff competition from Warinyane Lebopo another local athlete who got second spot and other Botswana counterparts.

He said the 21.1km will help him to increase his speed as he is looking to reclaim the Soweto marathon after losing it to another local athlete Mabuthile Lebopo last year.

However, he said he had an upper hand because he always trains on such hilly and steep roads in order to familiarise himself with different courses.

For his efforts Maine scooped M1100.00 plus a gold medal after clocking 1.06:44 with Warinyane Lebopo coming second at 1.06:46 and third was Moeketsi Mosuhli at 1.07:03 as well as Thabo Ntlaloe (1.07:38), Tiisetso Ramokheseng and Malefetsane Tumi came forth and fifth at 1.08:05 and 1.08:15 as Basotho took full control and dominated the proceedings.

In the Women's category, 'Mamoroallo Tjoka also proved to be a hard nut to crack despite coming out from sick leave three weeks ago and scooped the first prize money.

Tjoka finished the race at 1.22:44 and won herself M1100.00 and a gold medal which she said was slower than her record of 1.15 at previous races.

She attributed the slow time to not being fit enough since she comes from an injury and had not prepared well for the race and was surprised to have been victorious.

Tjoka said she is now looking ahead for the forth coming Soweto marathon early November, where she intends to defend the crown she won last year.

She called on Basotho to rally behind her and to pray for her as she would be going all out to bring glory home.

Tjoka said though she is currently training here in Lesotho under the People's Runners athletics’ club, she intends leaving for South Africa two weeks prior to the race.

The Southern Region 21.1km race was part of preparations for the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) World 21.1 km road race to be staged in Europe in October.

Overall, Lesotho obtained gold medal and Botswana became second with silver for team prizes and there was no bronze medal award.

Other Southern Africa countries such as Botswana, Angola, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Mozambique also took part in the race.

Source: LENA 24/09/2007