Mashele on the rise as he targets another SA title

Having brushed aside the negative effects of the Covid pandemic, distance runner Precious Mashele is eager to use the lessons he has learned in a breakthrough 2021 season as he looks to take another step up the domestic ladder in Durban on Sunday.

Though he has spent most of his top-flight career in the shadow of countryman Stephen Mokoka, Mashele has emerged as a real contender for the throne as the country’s top road runner.

After winning the SA 5 000m title on the track in Pretoria earlier this year, Mashele went on to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics before he displayed a fabulous turn of speed to beat Mokoka at the SA Half-Marathon Championships in Gqeberha.

Showcasing his form again, the 31-year-old athlete set a 21km personal best of 1:00:00 in Poznan earlier this month, and with Mokoka recovering from his recent victory at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, title holder Mashele will turn out as the favourite for the SA 10km crown at the Absa Durban 10k CityRun.

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“It was strange with all the testing and security measures (in Tokyo) – a very weird Olympic experience – and the competition was on another level,” Mashele said, looking back on his Games debut.

“I learned much in Tokyo and used that in Poland, and I will use that again for the Durban 10k CityRun.”

With in-form athlete Ryan Mphahlele apparently missing the race in order to compete at the Spar Tembisa Mile on Sunday morning, where he lines up as the firm favourite, Mashele’s strongest competition in Durban is expected to come from the international field in the open race, and he’ll be difficult to beat in the battle for the national title.

In-form athlete Glenrose Xaba was absent from the provincial entry lists released this week, and if she does not line up, a wide open contest is expected in the women’s SA Championships race.