Precious Mashele set to move up to the marathon

His coach, former New York City Marathon champion Hendrick Ramaala, confirmed to SABC Sport that the Limpopo-born athlete has fully recovered from a long-term knee injury and is ready for the next chapter of his career.

Ramaala, who guides several elite long-distance runners at the Zoo Lake training group, believes the time has come for Mashele to make the transition to the standard 42.2km distance.

“You’ll see him at the Soweto Marathon, where he will run the 21km as part of his buildup. Precious will make his full marathon debut early next year. We have put him on a marathon programme — he is no longer suited for the shorter stuff,” said Ramaala.

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His injury taught us some lessons — marathons demand more preparation, more resources, and mental strength. We are giving him the time he needs to adapt,” he explained.

He says the group is motivated and focused on achieving major results next season.

“Next year we want our athletes competing in all the big marathons and road races. The goal is to reach the podium — at least a top ten finish. We’re planning to take more runners to major races from 2026. It’s all about growth and building the sport,” Ramaala added.

Mashele, who runs for Boxer Running Club, is now back in high spirits and eager to test himself over the longer distance. “He’s happy and smiling again, which is important. You want a confident athlete who believes he can come back stronger and reach new heights,” said Ramaala.

Ramaala said he has been patient with Mashele, helping him rebuild his confidence after a difficult period.