SA stars gear up for the Grand Prix series in Germiston

Tshite upset the big guns to win the National title in Potchefstroom three weeks ago.

But Mphahlele is eager to win the 1 500m meeting in the colours of the Central Gauteng Athletics at the Stadium that he knows well.

Mphahlele won the CGA Provincial Track and Field Championships, senior men 5000m title at the Germiston Stadium, smashing a 32-year-old Stadium record set by Richard Chelimo of Kenya during the Unity Games in 1992. 

Mphahlele clocked 13:46:57 in the Provincial meeting to show why he is one of the best middle-distance runners in SA.

“I will run the 1 5000m in Germiston and hope to win the gold medal. We looked at the possibility of running a fast time at the Stadium that I enjoy running. Germiston has a beautiful track, and one can run faster there. We have talented middle-distance runners in the country, and the competition is always there,” Mphahlele told SABC Sport.

Sensational middle-distance runner Prudence Sekgodiso is among the big-name participants.

The ASA President James Moloi has called on local athletes to use the opportunity to qualify for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, later this year.

“Last week, we watched Zeney Van der Walt qualify for the World Championships in Tshwane, and we hope to see others booking their spot in Budapest. I have seen the Stadium in Budapest, and it looks amazing. We are ready to send a big team to the World Championships and have provided a platform for the athletes to qualify. The Grand Prix is of the highest standards, and we have invited a few guests from other countries to have them run a fast time,” said Moloi.

African 100m record holder with 9.77 seconds, Ferdinand Omanyala, is one of the guest athletes.

Omanyala ran a 10.33, beating 19-year-old sprinter Benjamin Richardson (10.33) in Tshwane last week.

Werner Prinsloo, the coach of SA 100m champion Akani Simbine told the national broadcaster his athletes Carina Horn and Simbine would run the meeting.

“We identified one Grand Prix, and Germiston is part of the plan. The plan is to run faster and get the much-needed competition before we head to Italy for our training camp in May,” added Prinsloo.