‘Put the athlete first’ says ASA’s Skosana ahead of the World Road Running Championships

Just days before the start of the World Road Running Championship in Copenhagen, Denmark, this weekend, Enoch Skosana, Head of Athletics South Africa’s Road Running Commission, made a call for South African athletics to return to its fundamentals and put the athlete first.

He also spoke positively on the chances of the South African team causing one or two surprises at the championships.

“Our team is mostly made up of young, promising athletes,” Skosana commented. “Only Elroy (Gelant) is there as a more experienced athlete to share his knowledge and motivate the younger ones.

“Our aim will be to go for a medal in team competition. We did that last time (the men’s half marathon team clinched a bronze medal in Riga, Latvia in 2023).

“While we might not have the same strength we had at the last championships, we expect our athletes to run at their best of their ability, to run PB’s and potentially SA records.

“Glenrose (Xaba) can certainly set a national record in the half-marathon and  with Tayla Kavanagh on fire, we can expect a record from her in the 5km. That could eclipse Elana Meyer’s designated ‘fastest time’ for the distance (Meyer’s 15:10 set in the USA in 1994 is listed as a ‘best time’ as the world body did not recognise the 5km road distance as ‘official’ at that time. Kavanagh’s 15:50, set at the last WRRC in 2023, is listed as the national record).

“And Maxime Chaumeton can compete with the best in the world and we can expect an SA record from him in the 5km,” Skosana continued.

“I don’t think it’s impossible to expect a podium from one or two of our athletes. Although they may be down the global rankings, it all depends on their performance on the day. In 1996 Josiah Thugwane was not even in the original team and surprised everyone with his Olympic gold medal in the marathon.  

“Anything is possible. Tshepo (Tshite – in the mile), Elroy, Maxime, Tayla and Glenrose are all capable of great things.”

While Skosana recognised that given the current context in South African sport, leadership and governance were priority focus areas, support for the country’s athletes should ultimately be the primary concern for the governing body.

“We must put athletes first,” Skosana emphasised, speaking to the current ‘tug of war’ between the country’s governing body and other organisations promoting the sport. “I know where I come from as a former elite athlete and I know what the leadership has done for me.  Now is not the time to focus on provincial structures. Let’s concentrate on the performance of our athletes.

“I’m aware there are people and organisations out there waiting (for good governance to be in place) and who want to invest in supporting athletes. We will make this happen.  This support for individual athletes makes all the difference in achieving world class performances.

“People talk about travelling abroad to training camps, but we have high altitude destinations, such as Dullstroom (in Mpmumalanga) where we can develop world class facilities where athletes can train.”

Skosana took pride that South Africa was becoming an international player, putting on events which will bring athletics back to a higher profile in sport in the country. “We now have a Marathon Major in Cape Town – the first in Africa – which means our best marathon runners can race and compete without having to travel abroad.

“We are hosting the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships next year and everything is running smoothly as we put our plans in place.  And our Minister of Arts, Culture and Sport is encouraging us to bid to host a Diamond League meeting in the near future.”

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