BY Nkosazana Ngwadla
Ryan Mphahlele has become one of the best emerging middle distance runners at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), winning medals for South Africa in international competitions. After competing in the World Cross Country Championships in Australia in February 2023, Mphahlele has surpassed his recorded personal best running time in the 2nd Grand Prix of the Cape Millers/Endurocad Continental Tour on Monday, 17 April 2023.
He won the 1500-meter race in 3:32.90 minutes, beating the national champion, Tshepo Tshite.
His rise to athletics dominance became evident in multiple competitions such as the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA), Athletics South Africa (ASA) Cross Country, IAAF and World Cross Country championships. In 2022, Mphahlele represented South Africa in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the CAA Senior African Athletics Championships in Mauritius (winning a silver medal).
“The preparation for this year’s competitions started in November 2022 during the off season. We continued training at the UJ Stadium with the aim to target breaking the SA record and qualify for the world championships before the end of season,” says Mphahlele’s coach, Elvis Khoza.
Khoza says that this win bodes well for Mphahlele because he can shift his focus on competing in the University Sport South Africa (USSA) championships free from pressure to qualifying for upcoming events.
The senior African Championships medalist’s winning time was the second fastest of his career. His coach described him as a dedicated athlete who inspires his fellow runners.
Mphahlele specialises in the 800 and 1500-meter running distances.
This win qualifies Mphahlele for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in Hungary which will be held from 19 to 27 August 2023.
Image and source: University of Johannesburg
