Tiisetso Malungane in action during a middle-distance race. The 16-year-old Pretoria runner is emerging as one of South Africa’s most promising young athletics talents. Sixteen-year-old middle-distance prospect Tiisetso Malungane is rapidly establishing himself as one of South Africa’s most promising young athletes, with the Pretoria-based runner already drawing comparisons to Olympic silver medallistBayanda Walaza.
Malungane recently delivered a remarkable display at the Curro Podium Grand Finale in Tshwane, where he secured an impressive distance double while also breaking a few records along the way. Over the past two months, the teenager has produced a series of standout performances. He claimed victory in the boys’ 800m at the Hoërskool Menlopark Invitation Meeting in Pretoria, clocking 1:48.26 — just 0.59 seconds outside the long-standing South African U18 record of 1:47.67 set by Mandla Nkosi more than 26 years ago.
He also shattered the national U17 3,000m record at theCurro Podium Grand Finaleand set a new meeting mark in the 1,500m at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria. His continued progress has placed him firmly on a long-term development pathway that could potentially lead to the2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Competing across two days at Pilditch Stadium this past weekend, Malungane won both the 1,500m and 3,000m events.
[paywall]
He first produced a meeting-record time of 3:45.35 in the 1,500m before returning to dominate the 3,000m in 8:21.03. His performances across the meeting earned him a combined 2,000 ASA points.
[/paywall]
All Zim News – Bringing you the latest news and updates.
