Taylor Kavanagh banking on Glenrose Xaba to push her to Durban 10km PB

The highly anticipated race gets underway at 7:30am on Saturday from Kingsmead Cricket Stadium, with a sold-out field of 12 000 runners chasing the R37 500 winner’s prize – the richest purse for a 10km event in South Africa.

The 23-year-old Hollywood Athletics Club runner, who earlier this year won the Durban International 10km, is eyeing another sub-32-minute finish.

Kavanagh boasts a personal best of 31:53 and believes Xaba, the national record-holder with a time of 31:12, could push her to a new lifetime best.

“Since this is a home race for me, I’m more excited than pressured. I’ll take in the energy, enjoy the experience, and thank my club for staging such a great event. I know Glenrose is targeting another national record, and that kind of pace will definitely pull the rest of us to faster times.

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She’s in terrific form, and when you have athletes like her in the race, you have to brace yourself for a PB or at least a really fast run. I’m looking forward to it,” Kavanagh told SABC Sport.  

This will be the former national 5km champion’s third outing this month, following a sub-32-minute showing at the Totalsports Women’s 10km and a victory at the Spar Pietermaritzburg 10km.

 “I’ve made sure to deliver what I’ve always aimed for in every race, and I can’t complain about the effort I’ve put in,” she added.

The women’s field promises a fierce battle, with Kavanagh’s Hollywood Athletics Club teammate and defending champion Neheng Khatala lining up alongside the Boxer Running Club duo of Karabo Mailula and Karabo More.

 “It’s a balanced and competitive field, and the youngsters are coming in strong. I’d prefer cooler weather with minimal wind or rain – that would make for perfect racing conditions. Women’s running in South Africa is growing rapidly, and the more we work together, the more we can achieve. Running with Neheng to break that sub-32 barrier will always be special for me. It just shows that when women push each other, great things happen,” said Kavanagh.