Tayla Kavanagh: A rising star in distance running focused on upcoming race in Durban
Image: Supplied
At just 24, Hillcrest-born Tayla Kavanagh has established herself as one of South Africa's top young distance runners.
She will be in Durban this weekend to take part in the Totalsports Women's Race on August 3.
A full-time elite athlete, Kavanagh said she has been running since the age of nine.
'I have always enjoyed running since I was young,' she said. 'I started at school in my junior years at 9 years old running cross country and I have been running ever since and have progressed over the years since then.'
She said she was excited to get the opportunity to race in Durban.
'I thoroughly enjoy racing at home in Durban,' she said. 'I enjoy the fast, flat route, and the hometown support is always incredibly special.
'Training has continued as usual towards race day and I mentally prepare myself to race by reminding myself what I have already achieved, what I have done in training and focusing on my own goals for each day.'
She expects strong performances in Durban given the favourable conditions. 'It is a great time of year to race in Durban, as the weather is usually excellent, providing perfect racing conditions,' she said.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
With deep roots in her community, she said local encouragement means the world to her. 'I'm incredibly blessed to have a large support system here in Durban,' she said. 'The support means a lot to me, and I truly appreciate it a lot. It always makes racing in Durban super special as I know there is a lot of support out there and people rooting for me.'
She said she looks up to many inspirational women.
'There are a lot of inspirational women across the globe, who are working hard, pushing limits and testing themselves and I have been inspired to do the same and chase after my own goals and dreams, one step at a time.'
Looking ahead, she's focused on staying grounded and consistent. 'My own personal goals are to embrace every opportunity to enjoy running and racing and hoping to challenge myself to see what I can achieve,' she said.
'Being consistent and staying healthy and strong while focusing on enjoying the process.'
THE MERCURY
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
19 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Currie Cup: Building an academy and depth key to Sharks' future success
The Sharks have backed their young guns to battle it out in the Currie Cup this season, which has led to some big early losses. The Sharks have backed an extremely young and inexperienced team for this year's Currie Cup, which has led to chastening opening defeats in the competition, 46-5 against the Lions and 64-0 against the Bulls on the Highveld. It was an unfortunate draw that saw the young guns having to take on the two Highveld giants, who have gone with a different player strategy for the oldest club competition in South African rugby, with both backing fringe players with plenty of URC experience for their campaigns. But throwing these youngsters into the deep end, while giving their senior players a proper break ahead of the coming URC and EPCR campaigns is exactly what the Sharks have decided is best, and it will thus be a baptism of fire for them over the rest of the Currie Cup. Big push Sharks forwards coach and former Springbok and Lions star Warren Whiteley revealed that the union were focusing on rebuilding their junior structures and giving these players game time in a big senior competition was key to achieving that. 'Neil (Powell, Sharks Director of Rugby) and Plum (Sharks head coach John Plumtree) have been really hard at work putting an academy back together. We lost the academy at the Sharks for over a decade,' said Whiteley. 'If you remember the Sharks of 10 or 15 years ago had a thriving academy where some of the best young players were developed. We had top coaches like Swys de Bruin, Ettiene Fynn and Ricardo Loubscher at the academy, bringing youngsters through the U19s and U21s. 'They were brought into competitions like the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup, and although we know that our structures have changed now with the URC and Champions Cup the main focus, the recruitment and development of junior players is still crucial.' The right talent Whiteley explained that bringing in the right junior talent to the union was important and that it takes a lot of work to build the junior structures back up to the level it once was at, but that it would be well worth it in the long run. 'A player that comes to the province (at a young age) is more likely to stay in thepProvince. So Neil and Plum have been really hard at work over the last year or two, putting academy structures together, and bringing top coaches back in,' said Whiteley. 'We are now starting to put recruiting processes in place, and we know it's not easy because there is a lot of competition out there for quality (young) players. We also can't just go for talented players, but need to get the right players (to fit into our structures). 'It is important to get profiles on these players, to understand where they come from, their history, schooling and foundation. It is a process. And then hopefully what we will see is more players like Ethan Hooker coming through in the coming years. If we can do that, the Sharks will be in a really good place.' The young Sharks team are at home to the Cheetahs at 5.10pm on Saturday.
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs news: 25-goal Nigerian striker and Junior Khanye
Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has confirmed the club's pursuit of Nigerian striker Etiosa Ighodaro, who has quietly become one of the most effective forwards in the Betway Premiership over the past three seasons. Amakhosi are eager to secure his services permanently—but face a significant obstacle: Ighodaro remains contracted to Mamelodi Sundowns. The 24-year-old forward spent the last three campaigns on loan from Sundowns, gaining experience and scoring consistently at three different clubs: Chippa United, SuperSport United, and AmaZulu. Ighodaro, who has scored 25 goals in 88 Betway Premiership games, was meant to join Amakhosi as a free agent before the Soweto giants reportedly discovered Sundowns have a one-year extension option on the Nigerian star's expired deal…Full story here. Kaizer Chiefs target Etiosa Ighodaro playing for AmaZulu in the Betway Premiership against Amakhosi. Image: Goal Kaizer Chiefs are still in the process of signing Asanele Velebayi and Luke Baartman of Cape Town Spurs. Meanwhile, Junior Khanye has commented strongly. As reported in June, the Kaizer Chiefs thought they had secured both players as free agents. However, Cape Town Spurs responded by claiming that the duo is still under contract. Due to Spurs' dramatic relegation from the Motsepe Foundation Championship (second tier) to the ABC Motsepe (third tier), Kaizer Chiefs followed the PSL's rulebook, which states that relegation to the third tier makes player contracts null and void. The situation has stalled Kaizer Chiefs from announcing and registering the two players. While the legal battle is still underway, Junior Khanye has reviewed the two players' abilities. 'Out of the two Cape Town Spurs players Kaizer Chiefs are reportedly targeting, I really hope they succeed in signing Baartman – he's got the qualities to do well at the club. I'm not as convinced by Velebayi,' Khanye said…Full story here. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Proteas captain Temba Bavuma deserved the SA Cricketer of the Year award on merit
Protyeas captain Temba Bavuma should have won the CSA Player of the Year award last week. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix For years my colleagues up on the Highveld have been boasting that Joburg is where it's at. Being a true-blue Capetonian that lives off the fresh breeze of the ocean, I've always put up strong resistance. It's not that I haven't spent time up in the Big Smoke before, but this past week has had me hustling from West, East, South and North of this vast metropolis. Each day there's been a sporting event/launch/match that requires my attention. From Jonty Rhodes' birthday celebrations with Mahindra to MTN8 and Betway Premiership season-opening affairs to the grand Cricket South Africa (CSA) Awards, this Jozi town is certainly a sports journalists' Mecca. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The CSA Awards was certainly top of the list. While media are no longer flown up and lodged on the CSA account as in previous years, it was an event I simply could not miss. After attending the 'Oscars' of South African cricket for the best part of 15 years, there was something to finally truly celebrate: the Proteas' Men's team breaking a 27-year curse when Temba Bavuma and his team defeated Australia to win the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord's. Much to my disappointment, I only discovered at a later stage that the WTC final fell outside of the adjudicators' calendar year that ran from May 1, 2024 until April 30, 2025. But that had nothing on the vexation that filled through my entire body when Proteas Test captain Temba Bavuma was overlooked as the SA Men's Cricketer of the Year. A night that had ironically started in glorious fashion with Bavuma walking out with the golden Test mace to the standing ovation of everyone inside the Emperors Palace banquet hall, to one that was stunned into silence when Keshav Maharaj was awarded the biggest prize in South African cricket. Don't get me wrong. Maharaj is a fantastic hard-working cricketer that deserves every ounce of his success after another splendid year. The left-arm spinner claimed 40 Test wickets and was the Proteas' second highest-wicket taker in the T20 format. Greatness was honored, and memories were made! 📸 A huge shoutout to our Proteas Men CSA Awards 2025 winners who are still buzzing from the celebrations! ⚡️🏆#CSAAwards2025 #WozaNawe — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) August 4, 2025
