‘I’m stoked’: Kavanagh caps breakthrough season by shining for SA team in Copenhagen
Kavanagh ran the race of her life at the global championships after delivering a long list of impressive performances throughout the year.
Tayla Kavanagh has had a standout 2026 season, surprising even herself with her remarkable performances. At the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, she delivered a race of her life, shattering a national record and finishing fourth in the women's 5km race in 14:51. This marked the first time a South African woman had broken the 15-minute barrier on the road.
Kavanagh admitted she was "stoked" with her fourth-place finish, stating she had only hoped to reach the top 10. Despite competing in windy conditions, she remains grateful for her representative role with South Africa. Kavanagh had an impressive year, setting personal bests across various distances on both tracks and roads, including 8:46.86 for 3,000m, 14:58.49 for 5,000m, and 32:05.59 for 10,000m on the track, along with 31:26 for 5km and 31:26 for 10km on the road.
She also secured an eighth-place finish in the 5,000m final at the Commonwealth Games and won both the national 5,000m and 10,000m titles. Looking ahead to the 2027 season, Kavanagh expressed her eagerness to build on her achievements and the progress she has made.
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