Tshepo Tshite breaks SA 1,500m record at Paris Diamond League
Already holding the SA 1,500 m (3:35.06) and mile (3:54.10) short track records, the 28-year-old set a national outdoor mark for the first time in his career.
Middle-distance runner Tshepo Tshite. Picture: @OfficialTeamRSA/X.
JOHANNESBURG – Tshepo Tshite broke the 11-year-old South African 1,500m record at the Diamond League meeting held in Paris, France, on Friday night.
The middle-distance runner finished ninth in 3:31.35, taking more than half a second off the 11-year-old national mark of 3:31.93 set by former World Championships medallist Johan Cronje in Rieti, Italy, in September 2013.
All SA records are subject to standard ratification processes
Already holding the SA 1,500 m (3:35.06) and mile (3:54.10) short track records, the 28-year-old set a national outdoor mark for the first time in his career.
"As we congratulate Tshite for achieving his feat of breaking a record, we also take the opportunity to encourage all athletes to drastically improve their performances in order to reach podium positions. The rest of the world is doing the same, because Japan won't be easy in September.
"But, we definitely don't take anything away from him, for a national record is always an achievement to be celebrated as it becomes a new benchmark for others. We, therefore, congratulate Tshite, his coach and all of his support staff," said Athletics South Africa's president, James Moloi.
In another race, Adriaan Wildschutt, the only other South African competing in Paris, settled for 14th position in the men's 5,000 m race in 13:28.67.
The next leg of the Diamond League series will be held in Eugene, USA, on 5 July.