Athletics
Glenrose and Tayla shape a modern-day sporting rivalry ahead of the Absa RYC CAPE TOWN 10k
Thirty-seven years ago, two young South African female athletes went head-to-head on the road in the South African Half Marathon championships in Durban. There was much in their favour – perfect conditions, a fast course and attractive financial incentives. The outcome was the third and fifth fastest times ever run for the distance on the planet.
Elana Van Zyl Meyer, 23, and Colleen de Reuck, 25, provided another element which proved crucial in attaining their leading times – strong competition. They had both achieved significant results racing against lesser opposition, but in 1989 they needed one another to push the bar to world-class standards.
And on Sunday, weather permitting, two modern-era South African athletes at the top of their game, will go head-to-head in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10k as Glenrose Xaba and Tayla Kavanagh battle for supremacy.
R10 000, equivalent to almost R100 000 today, was on offer in that Durban championship in 1989 to any athlete setting a national record for either the 10km race within a race (three separate timekeepers held watches at the 10km mark) or the full 21,1km half marathon.
Meyer bagged the first ten grand when she used her track speed to outsprint De Reuck to the 10km line to clock 31 min 47 sec and take down the five-year-old record held by another world-class athlete of similar age, Zola Budd.
De Reuck’s strength and stamina were legendary and she drew away from her younger rival in the final quarter to win by 48 seconds in 68:38 and claim the second incentive cheque. Shortly before the East African wave swept through the international road-running circuit, only the Norwegian super-star Ingrid Kristiansen (66:40) and American Joan Benoit-Samuelson (68:34) had ever run faster.
Meyer, who finished in 69:26 to place her fifth on the all-time list behind another legendary Norwegian, Grete Waitz (68:40), would later elevate herself to number one in the world, winning gold at the World Half Marathon Championships and breaking the world record over that distance on several occasions.
Meyer’s last WR of 66:44 was set in Tokyo, a decade after her first sub-70 min race in Durban, and still stands as a national record.
“I was used to racing some of the best athletes in the world in track and cross country from about 14 years old,” Meyer recalled. “Later Colleen provided some of my toughest competition on the road. Those contests against the best helped me to develop as an athlete.”
Until last month, no South African had come close to Meyer’s time but Xaba, who improved Van Zyl’s 10km national record by one second with a 31:12 in Durban in 2024, came within 19 seconds in running third in a competitive race at the Istanbul Half Marathon, clocking a massive PB in 67:03, She looks forward to taking her form into Sunday’s race over 10km.
“Istanbul was a great performance,” Xaba told SPNAfrica. “ I appreciated it a lot. I was able to run my personal best after a long time and that gives me motivation for the 2026 season ahead of me.
“I don’t think it will be sub-31 on Sunday, but I hope to achieve that some time this year! But I’m hoping for a competitive race and that my body can respond.”
Xaba has been a cut above the rest as South Africa’s leading marathon and sub-marathon road athlete in recent years. Kavanagh, however, who has made a strong come-back to her best form this year, has provided a spark which could ignite another lasting rivalry in the sport.
The Durban-based athlete burst onto the scene as a teenager in 2021 with a sensational 32:10 win in the RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10k, but it was four years before she returned to that form with a 31:41 win at the Cape Town Peace Run last October.
An upset last-gasp win over Xaba at the SPAR Women’s Grand Prix opener in Cape Town in March and two titles over 5000m and 10 000m in impressive times at the recent ASA Track and Field Championships at Stellenbosch, confirmed Kavanagh’s status as one of South Africa’s best-ever and the stage is set for a sporting rivalry which could stretch for several years and help catapult the pair ever higher in the global rankings.
Extreme weather threatens to dampen Sunday’s party, but the next race in the popular high-profile Absa RUN YOUR CITY series takes place in Durban in July – 37 years since that classic encounter between South African legends, Van Zyl and De Reuck.
While not yet confirmed, chances appear favourable for a contest between the country’s latest pair of world-class female athletes in Durban and, likely aided by the presence of leading East African athletes, the hopes for the first-ever sub-31 minute 10km time by a South African female athlete.
The post Glenrose and Tayla shape a modern-day sporting rivalry ahead of the Absa RYC CAPE TOWN 10k appeared first on Sports Network Africa.
Athletics
AFN President Tonobok Okowa Lauds Introduction Of Ben Aghazu Cash Prizes Ahead Of National Athletics Trials
The president of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa has lauded the introduction of Ben Aghazu Prize for Excellence ahead of the forthcoming national trisls in Lagos.
Sports247 reports that Okowa also showered encomiums on AFN’s second vice-president, Akuchukwu Chineze Aghazu for floating the elaborate cash prizes in honour of her late father, Ben Aghazu.
It was further gathered that, under the scheme, outstanding athletes will get N100,000 each for achieving performance standards in 14 events during the natuonal trials holding from June 20th to 22th at Yaba College ofTechnology, Lagos.
Aghazu also announced that two exceptional coaches, one male and a female, have already been selected to receive the athletics excellence award for tacticians in various track and field events.
In reaction to the development, Okowa expressed delight with the initiative, which he described as a commendable gesture that will inspire athletes to put in extra efforts towards getting better results during the trials.
Okowa declared, “I am excited by this thoughtful initiative from our second vice-president, Aku Aghazu. This is the kind of support that motivates our home-based athletes to give their very best during these all-important Commonwealth Games Trials.”
Okowa, who is also the senior vice-president of Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), used the opportunity to call on corporate organisations and philanthropists to support athletics and invest in the country’s sporting talents.
“We appeal to individuals, corporate bodies and stakeholders in the private sector to throw their weight behind athletics and our athletes. There is enormous talent in Nigeria and with the right support, our athletes can continue to make the nation proud on the global stage,” Okowa solicited.
AFN’s media committee chairman, Maxwell Kumoye added in a press statement, “The Ben Aghazu Prize for Excellence in Athletics covers the men’s and women’s 100m, 200m, 400m, 1500m and 5000m, as well as the long jump and javelin events.
“To earn the N100,000 reward in the men’s 100m, an athlete must clock 10.10 seconds, while the women’s benchmark is 11.20 seconds.
“In the 200m, male athletes must run 20.60 seconds, while female athletes are required to achieve 22.70 seconds. The qualifying standards for the 400m are 45.30 seconds for men and 51.00 seconds for women.
“For the 1500m, athletes must run 3:50.00 for men and 4:20.00 for women to claim the prize, while the 5000m standards have been fixed at 14:00.00 for men and 17:50.00 for women.
“Field event athletes have also been included in the incentive package. Male long jumpers must soar to 7.90 metres, while female athletes are expected to reach 6.50 metres. In the javelin throw, the targets are 81 metres for men and 55 metres for women.
“Should athletes meet the required marks across all 14 events, a total of N1.6 million could be disbursed during the three-day competition, (ahead of which) the scheme sends a powerful message that outstanding performances will be recognised and celebrated.”
Sports247 gathered further that, with the Commonwealth Games trials fast approaching, athletes now have an added incentive to produce world-class performances with Aghazu’s gesture, which honours the legacy of her late father.
The post AFN President Tonobok Okowa Lauds Introduction Of Ben Aghazu Cash Prizes Ahead Of National Athletics Trials first appeared on Sports247 Nigeria.
The post AFN President Tonobok Okowa Lauds Introduction Of Ben Aghazu Cash Prizes Ahead Of National Athletics Trials appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.
Athletics
Bukola Olopade Prioritises Athlete Welfare While Targeting 20 Medals At Commonwealth Games
Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, has stressed that athlete welfare and proper preparation will remain central to Team Nigeria’s ambitions ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
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Speaking during a strategic meeting with sports federation executives and technical officials in Abuja, Olopade revealed that the Commission is determined to provide athletes with the right environment and support needed to compete successfully.
“Athlete welfare remains a top priority for us,” Olopade said.
According to the NSC boss, the Commission’s preparation plans will focus heavily on discipline, improved support systems, and performance standards across all sports federations.
“We want our athletes to compete under the best possible conditions,” he implied.
Olopade also challenged Team Nigeria to aim for at least 20 medals at the Games, insisting the target remains ambitious but achievable.
“We are targeting a minimum of 20 medals,” he noted.
The sports administrator explained that current projections suggest Nigeria could secure around 16 medals, but the Commission wants athletes to push beyond expectations.
“The idea is to motivate the athletes to achieve more,” he added.
Olopade stressed that athlete welfare, discipline, and strong preparation would remain major benchmarks in the Commission’s roadmap ahead of the Games.
“Every federation must raise its standards,” he stressed.
The NSC remains optimistic that the groundwork currently being laid will help Nigeria produce one of its strongest Commonwealth Games performances in recent years.
“Good preparation and proper welfare can improve performances significantly,” many sports observers believe.
Team Nigeria is expected to compete across several sporting events as preparations continue intensifying ahead of Glasgow 2026.
For Bukola Olopade, the message is clear.
Athlete welfare is important.
Nigeria must aim for at least 20 medals.
And strong preparation remains essential for international success.
Because athletes perform best when they are motivated, supported, and properly prepared to compete at the highest level.
The post Bukola Olopade Prioritises Athlete Welfare While Targeting 20 Medals At Commonwealth Games first appeared on Sports247 Nigeria.
The post Bukola Olopade Prioritises Athlete Welfare While Targeting 20 Medals At Commonwealth Games appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.
- Event: Olympic Day Tooke Run 2026
- Categories: Half Marathon (21KM), 10KM (Fun Run), 5KM (Walk for Fitness Inclusivity)
- Prize money: Ug.Shs 120,000,000
- Date: Saturday, 20th June 2026
- Start & finish: Bushenyi sports ground
- Theme: Move, Learn & Discover for Nutrition-Care
- Chief Runner: His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
The Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC), in partnership with Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development (PIBIC) and Banana Industrial Research and Development Centre (BIRDC), officially unveiled a UGX 120,000,000 (One hundred and twenty million) prize cash for the 2026 Olympic Day Tooke Run set for 20th June in Bushenyi District.
The event to unveil this hefty prize money took place at the BIRDC head offices in Kampala on Tuesday, 2nd June 2026.
Rev. Professor Florence Muranga Isabirye, the Nutrition Ambassador at Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) graced the event flanked by UOC’s administrator Elijah Njawuzi and the route director Timothy Masaba.
“The prize monies across the different categories are meant to appreciate the effort of the runners and motivate them as we grow the sport of running in Uganda” Rev. Prof Muranga stated.
The prize money will be awarded across the 21KM Half Marathon, 10KM Road Race, and 5KM Fun Run/Walk categories, including a dedicated Under-16 Youth Race aimed at nurturing and rewarding emerging talent.
A lion’s share of this money will go to the 21KM runners who will pocket Ug.Shs 72,000,000 in total for the total five across both gender.
Ug.Shs 24,000,000 will be rewarded to the 10KM runners and the rest will be shared among the 5KM recreational runners.
Besides the money for the top runners, there will be a ceremonial medal for everyone who participates as well as a gift hamper.
Held under the theme “Move, Learn and Discover for Nutrition Care,” the Run seeks to raise support for Uganda’s team to the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026, promote healthy lifestyles, and champion nutrition awareness through the power of sport.
Registration is ongoing at register.olympictookerun.com. Secure your kit today for only UGX 35,000 and be part of a movement that is transforming lives through sport and nutrition.
His Excellency president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is expected to be the chief guest.
The post Olympic Day Tooke Run 2026: Hefty Ug.Shs 120,000,000 prize money kitty unveiled appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
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