The opening day of the South African Track & Field Nationals in Stellenbosch was highlighted by the performance of a women’s middle-distance runner, which seemed fitting given this year’s venue for the Championships.
It was in the 1980s and 1990s when middle-distance running used to bring the crowds to the famous Coetzenburg Stadium, the T&F headquarters of Stellenbosch University. Elana Meyer, Zola Budd and Tanya Peckham used to thrill those watching world-class women’s talent, while the men’s middle-distance races were highlighted by Johan Fourie, Johan Landsman and Deon Brummer.
We were reminded of Coetzenburg as a middle-distance paradise when Tayla Kavanagh won the women’s 5000m on the opening day of competition, running in her own bubble throughout to stop the clock in 14min 58.52sec.
That time moved her to second in the all-time national rankings over 5000m, with only Meyer (14:44.05 in 1995) being faster.
“I was just like ‘let’s give it a good go today and see how the body responds’. As each lap went by I heard (from the stadium announcer) that I was pretty much on the record, and I was quite surprised. I kept hearing it and I was like ‘ok, just block it out and run as fast as you can’,” Kavanagh told media afterwards.
In the sprints, Gift Leotlela and Joviale Mbisha confirmed their status from 2025 when they won the men’s and women’s 100m. Leotlela and Benji Richardson flashed across the line as one, but the clock favoured the defending champion (10.15 versus 10.16).
There was a carbon copy scenario in the women’s 100m where Mbisha and Viwe Jingqi were credited with the same time of 11.55. Rounded down further, Mbisha got the judges’ verdict.
There’s a cold front approaching the Western Cape which could cause havoc with performances with the action scheduled to end on Saturday.
Photo: Tayla Kavanagh (archive)