Tshepo Tshite joins Xcel as they target more track athletes

Xcel Running Club have been busy in the 2023 transfer market. The club which was founded in KwaZulu-Natal is marching ever closer towards their goal of becoming a truly national club by signing another Gauteng-based SA International. After confirming that Milton Kekana has joined them, #TheTopRunner can now reveal that the red and navy blue army have lured reigning national 800m champion Tshepo Tshite to their stable.

Tshite on action on the European 800m circuit. Xcel are elated to have signed a track runner of his calibre. Photo Credit: Supplied.

26-year-old Tshite who is coached by Samuel Sepeng, holds a personal best time of 1:44:59 achieved during the 4th Irena Szewinska Memorial meeting last year in Poland and represented the country at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Orgeon. Speaking to #TheTopRunner, Sbu Cele who is one of the club's founders was pleased to see his club landing the signature of an athlete of Tshite's calibre.

"We are happy to have signed Tshite. It's a good signing for us. He comes to the club with a lot of achievements as his results speaks for themselves," said an elated Cele. "I think to bring someone like him will also indicate that we have an eye for spotting good athletes. As for athlete like him to commit to a club that is still growing like us is a huge turning point. We never had issues when we were having discussions. He clearly knows what he wants in life. I'm happy to have him in the club."

Tshite poses with coach Samuel Sepeng after running a personal best 3:36.09 for 1500m in March 2022. Photo Credit: MWMedia.

Since its inception in 2020, Xcel has managed to attract good road runners such as Rutendo Nyahora which put the club on the map. But Cele believes Tshite's presence will be a major boost in their intentions to have a balance between track and road runners.

"When we launched a club, our vision was to have a club that caters for track, road, trail and cross country athletes. That hasn't changed even now," he explained. "Although our focus in the past two years has been most on road runners but we never neglected the other disciplines. Now with Tshite part of us then it sends a strong message that we are still on track with our vision. We are have more big plans to accommodate track runners in the future."