The 23-year-old, encouraged by her fifth-place finish at the Totalsports Women’s 10km in Durban, is determined to build on that momentum.

Speaking to SABC Sport, she opened up about the challenges she’s faced over the past couple of years and how breaking the 32-minute barrier still feels surreal.

In May, Kavanagh won the Durban International 10km with a time of 34:20, but her recent personal best shows the potential she’s had since emerging as a teenage prodigy.

“Racing alongside fast competitors always pushes me to achieve a new personal best. The presence of international runners helps us elevate our times here in South Africa,” she said.

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“It’s been a tough two years, with injuries and dips in form, but I’ve been chasing this time for a long while. Now that I’ve broken the sub-32 mark, I’m more confident moving forward.

The Hollywoodbets 10km is coming up, and with its fast, flat course, I’m eager to put in another strong performance and make my club proud,” Kavanagh added. She finished in the top 10 last year with a time of 34:06.

Last year’s winner, Neheng Khatala of Lesotho—also from Hollywood Athletics Club—has confirmed her participation for the race in two weeks.

Meanwhile, Kavanagh, a regular in the Spar Women’s 10km and Absa Run Your City 10km series, says she’s healthy and in good shape as she prepares.

Her goal is to run a strong time and recapture the promising form she showed as a teenager.

“I’m taking things step by step and hope to improve with each race. This year, I have more opportunities to train and compete,” she concluded.

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