Taylor Kavanagh reflects on memorable Commonwealth Games debut

Kavanagh sacrificed a few major local races to compete on one of the biggest stages in athletics, and the experience proved to be both challenging and rewarding. Competing against some of the world’s best athletes gave her a clear indication of the level required at elite international competition.

The 25-year-old admitted that moving from road running to the track has not been easy, but she was delighted to test herself in an event that has not always been her main focus.

Representing Hollywood Athletics Club, Kavanagh described the Commonwealth Games as a valuable learning experience that could help shape the next stage of her career.

She travelled to Glasgow with the goal of learning, gaining international exposure, and measuring herself against top-class athletes from around the world. 

The race also taught her important lessons about the physical nature of championship track racing.

"There was quite a lot of pushing and shoving in the race and I definitely lost a few seconds here and there. This was a new experience for me making the transition between track and road running, and to simply be here at the Commonwealth Games is a dream come true."

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Kavanagh, a former South African 5km and 10km champion, said one of the highlights of the Games was spending time with Team SA athletes from different sporting codes.

After competing at her first major international track championship, Kavanagh is now aiming even higher. 

Her next big target is to qualify for the 10 000m at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

She revealed that at the start of the year she had set herself the ambitious goal of competing in both the 5000m and 10 000m in Glasgow, although she was selected for only one event.

Despite that disappointment, the Commonwealth Games has strengthened her belief that she can one day earn a place on South Africa’s Olympic team.