Tshepo Tshite confident of breaking SA record after narrowly missing out

Having narrowly missed out on breaking the SA 1 500m record on Friday night, middle-distance runner Tshepo Tshite believes he can crack the national mark if he can remain consistent this season.

In a spectacular race at the Cape Milers Club ASA Grand Prix meeting in Cape Town, Tshite settled for second place behind Tshepiso Masalela of Botswana in the men’s metric mile.

Masalela, who reached the Olympic final in Paris last year, set a Botswana record of 3:30.71 to secure victory, while Tshite grabbed the runner-up spot in 3:32.03 and Ryan Mphahlele (who did much of the work by pushing the pace until he lost touch on the final lap) ended third in 3:33.36.

Tshite was just 0.10 outside the 12-year-old national 1 500m record of 3:31.93 held by Johan Cronje, perhaps paying for a tactical error by trying to overtake Masalela on a bend.

“I was hoping for the national record, but it was my first 1 500m race of the season,” said 28-year-old Tshite, who set a national indoor mile record of 3:54.10 in France in February.

“So even though things didn’t go the way I wanted to, I’m happy because I ran a personal best.

“The most important thing is to not focus on running fast. It’s all about mastering consistency, and if I can do that, I believe the record will come.”

Wildschutt and Xaba win SA titles

Meanwhile, with the Cape Milers Club ASA Grand Prix hosting the SA 10 000m Championships, Nadeel Wildschutt and Glenrose Xaba retained the national titles they won last year.

In the men’s race, Wildschutt kicked hard with four laps to go to win in 29:10.57, with Cwenga Nose hanging on for second place in 29:13.69.

Xaba led from the start of the women’s race and lapped everybody else in the field, winning her eighth national 10 000m title in 31:40.13.

She finished nearly two minutes clear of runner-up Cacisile Sosibo who completed the 25-lap contest in 33:38.68.