Irvette Van Zyl makes a heartfelt plea to SA athletics bosses

Following her remarkable achievement of securing third place, Van Zyl became the first South African runner to cross the finish line.

Van Zyl a three-time champion of the Soweto Marathon, completed the Spar Women’s 10km race in 35:08 at Marks Park Sports Centre On Sunday.

Salem Gebre secured the first position with a time of 33:41, closely followed by her compatriot Debash Desta in second place with a time of 33:55. 

“I believe that our running clubs provide valuable support to athletes, but it’s essential for our generation to step up our game. To compete effectively against international runners, we require increased backing from our national federation. With enhanced support from Athletics SA, including coaching and essential resources for our success, we can attain the high standards required for participation in world championships. What’s crucial at this point is more substantial support at the highest level,” Van Zyl expressed during her interview with SABC Sport.

Van Zyl, a member of the Hollywoodbets Athletics Club, clinched her first podium finish in the series after being absent for the first three of its six legs.

Tadu Nare, who emerged as the series champion, now stands alongside Van Zyl and Rene Kalmer as one of the most accomplished runners, each boasting three titles.

Achieving a top-three position holds immense significance for her, and she intends to savour this moment for as long as possible.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have secured a place on the podium, and this achievement means a lot to me. It’s been a challenging journey for me as I’ve been dealing with an injury since November last year, making this year feel incredibly long. The road to recovery has been lengthy, but now, as we approach the end of the season, I finally feel like I can embark on a new chapter. It’s been a frustrating year, especially missing out on the Two Oceans, so I’m relieved to be able to run freely once more,” expressed Van Zyl.