On Sunday 31st October, with the sun shining down on a beautiful Ethekwini morning, the ABSA Durban 10K CITYRUN and National Championships kicked off at 6am, with 75 of the country’s elite women runners vying to be the next SA long-distance champ.
20-year-old NewBridge College student Tayla Kavanagh, currently in her 1st year of an entrepreneurship programme, was running her 4th race of the season. Having achieved an impressive run in Gqeberha earlier in the month, Tayla was a clear favourite – a title she lived up to with flying colours.
Straight out the gates, Tayla led the pack. As the race wore on, her pace remained relentless, leaving behind the rest of the favourites – many of them seasoned runners – and soaring through to a stunning win with an incredible time of 32:10.
This is Tayla’s first year as a Senior Athlete, and we can all agree that her career as a long-distance runner is off to a promising start. With the beginning of the year shrouded in uncertainty, Tayla’s biggest challenge was staying dedicated and motivated during the pandemic. But by focusing on day-to-day training and keeping her long-term goals in mind, she was able to stay motivated and active in the run-up to the season’s events.
At NewBridge College, we are incredibly proud to have Tayla as part of our family, and we look forward to giving her all the support we can as she continues her meteoric rise to the top of SA running!
