Sepeng Backs Tshite to win National Title

Sepeng believes Tshite will upset middle-distance stars Ryan Mphahlele and Nkosinathi Sibiya in the three-lap race in the North West Province from March 30 to April 1, 2023, at the Puk MacArthur Stadium. Defending champion Sibiya is vying for a fourth national title in the distance, but faces tough competition from Mphahlele and Tshite.

Sepeng coaches Prudence Sekgodiso and Tshite in Tshwane and is willing to stake everything on the pair returning to the capital city with national titles after the three-day event at the Athletics Central North West Province's home. “Prudence will do the 1500m and 800m, but Tshepo will do the 1500m only to get enough time to prepare for the event. We are not scared of Ryan and Nkosinathi. They should be scared of Tshepo, as he is the threat.

”Tshepo does not have competition in the 800m, and we decided to move up and run against the big boys. The 1500m is the race to look out for at the national championships, and there will be fireworks,” Sepeng told SABC Sport.

Sepeng, the 2018 SA Sports Awards Coach of the Year, is pleased with Tshite's progress leading up to the national championships and predicts a faster time in the heats and final. “Tshepo did well at the Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) Provincial Track and Field Championships, clocking 3:38:01 to win a gold medal. He is in the business of running and takes his career seriously, and we are not nervous and well-prepared for the 1500m at the nationals. 

 “The final will feature the best three athletes in the country, and it is a great platform to test ourselves and showcase our talent in front of a big crowd.”

Last month, Mphahlele, Sekgodiso, Caster Semenya, and Tshite represented South Africa in the 4x2km mixed relay at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia, clocking 23:50 to finish fourth, 24 seconds short of the podium. Sepeng believes representing their country at the world championships will boost the pair's confidence before the nationals, and that Tshite and Mphahlele will qualify for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. The standard qualifying time is 3:34:20.

“They both run good times, and we have talked about Budapest from the beginning of the year. And SA stands a good chance of having two athletes in the 1500m at the World Championships for the first time, and I think the two can do it. 

“But we do not want to put them under pressure to qualify for the World Championships in Potch. We still have more competitions to run. The focus in Potch is to win the title, and the rest will come later.”