Mphahlele and Tshite light up the Green Point track

Mafori Ryan Mphahlele take a bow!  And Tshepo Tshite too.

On a perfect night for athletics at the Green Point Athletics Stadium yesterday (Monday 17 April), 24-year-old University of Johannesburg athlete, Ryan Mphahlele, ran the race of his life at the Cape Milers Endurocad WA Continental Tour Challenger 2 meeting, blitzing across the finish line in the 1500m in 3 min 32.90 sec – the fastest time ever recorded in South Africa.

In a thrilling climax to the race, Mphahlele held off fast-finishing rival, Tshite (Excel Athletics Club), in the home straight to win by a whisker.  Tshite’s time of 3:33.02 is the second fastest ever in South .Africa.

The athletics was out of the top-drawer, the setting and conditions perfect and organization slick and effective.  The only missing element was the spectators.  The small but appreciative crowd were treated to 90 minutes of top-quality entertainment, but thousands missed out on what would have been a memorable evening of track athletics at its finest.

Fifty-two years ago, the old Green Point Stadium was packed to the rafters for the first ever international meeting in South Africa, memorable for an epic dual between Andries Krogmann and Johannes Metsing in the 10 000m. The standard of athletics served up last night was every bit as impressive as the 1970s fare enjoyed by a capacity crowd. Disappointing so few were there to witness it.

“A great rivalry is potentially building between Ryan and Tshepo, and that augurs well for SA men’s 1500m/mile running,” commented one of University of Cape Town’s sub-four-minute milers of the 1980’s Greg Liefeldt, in the grandstand with some of his erst-while track companions.

“Ryan is clearly in a similar ‘mold’ to that of Johan Fourie (whose previous fastest 1500m time in South Africa has now been beaten). He is a bold front-runner, prepared to put it all out there as he chases fast times. And that front-running drew the best out of Tshepo on the night. 

“Performances last night were reminiscent of the golden era of 1-hour meets in the 1980’s. Now we just need the crowds to inspire even greater performances. And it’s good to see Endurocad and Cape Milers Club putting together such a slick show.”

Mphahlele’s time is less than a second off Johan Cronje’s South African record of 3:31.93 set in Italy in 2013 and it is surely a matter of time before the two current South African middle-distance speedsters eclipse that mark too.

“I said to Elana (van Zyl) on Friday (when he won the 1500m in 3min 35,01 sec on a windy Green Point Track in the first meeting of the three-part series) that I’d go even fast tonight,” said a delighted Mphahlele. “Everything went well tonight.  I was aiming for under 3:33 and nailed it.  I slowed down in the final straight, so I think I’ve still got some improving to do.”

“I’ve really appreciated these opportunities to race 1500m competitively,” said Tshite. “Endurocad have been making a difference to track in the country in recent years.  I’ve had a good build-up this year and competing in the cross-country at World Championships in Australia made me stronger.

“I gave it everything tonight but just didn’t have that final push to clinch victory.”

Former World Championship and Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Kenya’s Elijah Manangoi, boasts a best time three seconds quicker than that of Mphahlele and just two seconds off the world record, but on the night he proved no match for the South Africans, finishing 4 seconds back in third.

Tshite’s Excel teammate, Tshepiso Masalela, led the runners through the first two laps before Mphahlele took charge at the start of the third.  He opened a gap and held it through most of the final lap before Tshite drew level 50 metres from the finish.

And while the 1500m proved a fitting climax to a top evening of athletics, it was by no means the only noteworthy event as intense rivalry and perfect conditions led to a plethora of personal best times.

In another highlight, 28-year-old Stellenbosch-based Kyla Jacobs made a giant leap up the 5000m rankings with a huge 17 second personal best time of 15:20,61, taking her to fifth on the South African all-time list. Only the legendary Elana van Zyl, Zola Budd and Gwen Griffiths and new wonder-athlete, Dominique Scott, are ahead of her.

Jacobs’ lap upon lap dual with national cross-country champion, Glenrose ‘Supercharger’ Xaba, evoked memories of similar competition between Van Zyl and Budd in their formative years and both athletes will be looking to dip under 15 min 20 sec on the tracks of Europe later in the year.

Several events secured the winner – and often the minor placings – more than 1000 points on the international scoring system, an indicator of excellence. 

These included the women’s 800m with Botswana’s Oratile Nowe securing a last-gasp win against Gena Lofstrand, winning in 2:03.77, the men’s 5000m where local Nedbank athlete Anthony Timoteus recorded a life best of 13:35.90, winning by 6 seconds ahead of Johannesburg-based Boxer Athletics Club’s Nicholas Seoposengwe, the women’s 1500m where Prudence Sekgodiso beat Charnay Swart by just five hundredths of a second in 4:15.94 and the men’s 800m where Tukkies athlete James Seeliger proved too strong for ARB’s Simon Mohlosi.

While the emphasis of the meeting was on middle-distance running, the organisers staged a pole-vault event to provide visiting German athlete, Bo Kanda Lita Baehre, with some early-season competition practice. The 23-year-old did not disappoint, sailing over the bar at an impressive 5,60m.

The third and final meeting of the series will be held at Green Point on Monday 24 April and tickets can be obtained from https://www.quicket.co.za/events/211256-the-cape-milers-club-endurocad-world-athletics-continental-challenger-series/#/

RESULTS

Women

Men