World Athletics Challenger series in Cape Town set for record-breaking times

The final of the three-part series of the middle-distance World Athletics Cape Milers Club Endurocad World Continental Challenger series ends at Green Point Athletics stadium on Monday.

In the first two meetings in Cape Town, several athletes ran their personal bests and the elite athletes achieved some of the fastest times recorded on South African soil.

Ryan Mphahlele took the honour of the men's 1 500m won ahead of Tshepho Tshite as both athletes dipped well below the World Athletics qualifying time for the World Athletics Championships, taking place in Budapest in August this year.

Mphahlele's time of 3:32.90 ranks him as the second-fastest South African over the distance behind Johan Cronje (3:31.93).

The record is in danger of falling on Monday, as Tshite and Mphahlele could hold this accolade after Monday.

Monday's 10 000m field is one set to behold, as athletes will be aiming for a sub-28-minute finish time. Precious Mashele broke the South African road 10km record (under ratification) in Gqeberha on 2 April in a time of 27 min 35 seconds.

He will be the favourite, along with newly crowned Two Oceans Half marathon champion Mbuleli Mathanga and Elroy Gelant, who was second.

The men's Mile event is likely to see no fewer than five athletes dip under the magical four-minute barrier.

Both men and women will be racing for honours and a spot on the South African team to race at the World Athletics Road Mile Championships to be held in Riga, Latvia on 30 September.

Mphahlele, Tshite, Nkosinathi Sibiya and Christopher Swart are the South African athletes to watch out for in this one.

It promises to be one of the fastest miles on SA soil as Kenyan duo Elijah Manangoi and Mathew Kipsang will be looking for World Athletics