Ryan Mphahlele targets World Champs qualification

Mphahlele told SABC Sport he has faith in the middle-distance runners and believes they can have two or more athletes at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, later this year.

“The standard qualifying times are not tough, if we move as a collective as athletes and come to the party, we can crack the qualifying time. I believe that nothing is impossible. We can crack the 3:34 and the 3:33 if we can run faster and put ourselves up there. We can always go for it. My goal is to qualify for the World Championships, and I want to do it this weekend,” said Mphahlele.

South Africa relied a lot on the long jump and sprinters to deliver medals at the championships.

But Mphahlele believes that middle-distance runners are capable of producing medals at the highest level.

“Yes, we can do it for the country. Tshepo (Tshite) is doing well in the 800m, and I have also excelled in the 1500m, Precious Mashele is doing well in the 5000m, and Elroy Gelant is pushing in the 5000m and 10 000m. It’s time for us to come to the party and do well on our respective distances. We are trying to fix the country,” said Mphahlele.

Mphahlele dreams of representing his country at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

“It’s a goal of mine to qualify for the Olympics.

If I can stay healthy spiritually and emotionally, I will go to the Olympics. I do not want to go there to make up the numbers, I want to get a medal in Paris,” added Mphahlele.