Cross country star at Birchleigh High School shines
Ryan ran his personal best time ever for the 1 500m in three minutes and 56.37 seconds
RYAN Mphahlele, a grade 12 pupil at Hoërskool Birchleigh, has been selected to represent South Africa at the African Cross Country Championships in Yaounde, Cameroon on March 12.
“On behalf of our school and city we would like to congratulate Ryan and his coach, Elvis Khoza. Khoza from Tembisa Athletics Club was nominated as the best development coach in Gauteng 2015,” said Olga Human, deputy principal at Hoërskool Birchleigh.
Ryan started running for his club in 2008 and has qualified to represent Gauteng at the SA Schools Cross Country Championships since 2014.
He has been attending Hoërskool Birchleigh since 2015 and during that time he came second at the South African Schools Cross Country Championships and won the SA Cross Country Club Championships.
“I would like to thank my coach Elvis for his guidance, excellent coaching and sturdy belief in me. I would also like to express my gratitude towards my principal, André Gloy, and the staff of Hoërskool Birchleigh for their love and support,” said Ryan.
On February 10, Ryan represented Hoërskool Birchleigh at the Noordheuwel Schools Top 15 Athletics Championships at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). He won a gold medal in the 1 500m BU/19 event and ran his personal best time of 3:56.37.
“We wish Ryan the best for the future and we have faith that he will make Kempton Park and Tembisa very proud,” said Human.
