Tayla Kavanagh overcame an early fall and strong winds to claim victory in the Hollywoodbets Durban 10K on Sunday. She feels the resillience she showed will serve her well at the World Athletics Road Running Champs in Copenhagen later this month.
Tayla Kavanagh believes consistency has been the biggest driving force behind her breakthrough season, and the South African middle-distance star now hopes to put the finishing touches to a memorable 2026 at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen.
The 25-year-old will represent South Africa in the women's 5km at the championships on 19 September, having enjoyed a season that has seen her broaden her horizons beyond the roads and establish herself as one of the country's most promising distance runners.
For Kavanagh, there has been no single dramatic change behind her rise. Instead, she credits discipline, routine, and a greater focus on the mental side of her preparation.
"I've worked really hard on the mental side of the game," Kavanagh told IOL Sport exclusively on Friday. "You can be as physically prepared as anything, but if you're not lining up with your mental game being 100%, you're always going to be a little bit disadvantaged."
