Elana Meyer surprised her SA 10km record still stands

Meyer, now 57, set the national 10km women’s record with a time of 31:13 in 2001.

Yet, 23 years later, no one has come close to breaking it.

She believes that modern-day runners have more advantages than she did during her competitive years in the early ‘90s.

"I am really surprised that with all the technology, it's 23 years later and the SA record for the 10km/15km half marathon, 5000, 3000 are still standing. Throughout my career I worked really hard but I think the advantage now is you really have technology in the shoes and that has contributed globally to where many records have been broken,” Meyer said.

“On the other hand, I think we've seen a new generation of women coming through, especially over the marathon distance and this year three women will be representing South Africa at the Olympics, which is absolutely fantastic."

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The 1996 10 000m Olympic silver medallist, mentors the next generation of athletes through her academy, and believes that her 10km record will eventually be broken.

She is confident that the current generation of runners will surpass it one day.

"Oh, yes absolutely, records are there to be broken. You know I think I am very proud and privileged to be the owner of the record for so long but I've got absolutely no doubt that the record will go.

“We've got a lot of talented young women and I do believe that what we've seen over the marathon distance is great talent that started to come through and I've got no doubt that it will also be the same for the 10 000m."