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adidas unveils fastest-ever trail running shoe

Adnaan MohamedAdvertorial, TrailLeave a Comment on adidas unveils fastest-ever trail running shoe
By Adnaan Mohamed

For runners chasing seconds on the world’s toughest terrain, adidas believes it has found another gear. The global sports brand has unveiled the Agravic Speed Ultra Evo, its fastest trail running shoe to date, combining technology from its record-breaking road racing range with innovations developed specifically for the demands of mountain and ultra-distance racing.

Inspired by the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, the Agravic Speed Ultra Evo has been redesigned for uneven terrain, steep climbs and technical descents. At an average weight of only 250g, it is around 5% lighter than the Agravic Speed Ultra 2 while delivering more than 10% greater energy return and a 1% improvement in running economy.

For elite trail athletes, marginal gains often become monumental victories.

The shoe was created during a multi-year development programme involving 13 elite athletes, adidas designers and footwear engineers. Every prototype was tested in laboratories and on demanding race courses to ensure measurable performance translated into real-world confidence.

“Trail running asks so much more of a shoe,” said Korbinian Lehner, Senior Manager Footwear Innovation at adidas.

“Our challenge was finding the balance between speed, stability and confidence, and that’s exactly what the Agravic Speed Ultra Evo was built to deliver.”

Among the standout innovations is a new Dual ENERGYRIM construction, adapted from adidas’ road racing platform. The independent movement of each side of the shoe helps runners adapt to unpredictable terrain while increasing energy return by more than 10% compared to the previous model.

The moulded LIGHTSTRIKE PRO midsole delivers 15% greater deformation, allowing more responsive cushioning without compromising stability. Combined with an optimised rocker geometry and wider landing platform, the shoe is designed to create smoother transitions across rugged terrain.

Completing the package is an engineered woven upper featuring an integrated debris collar and minimal stitching, providing a secure second-skin fit while helping keep stones, sand and trail debris outside where they belong.

As trail running continues its rapid global rise, footwear innovation has become one of the sport’s fiercest battlegrounds. Every gram saved and every stride made more efficient can prove decisive over marathon and ultra-marathon distances.

The adidas Agravic Speed Ultra Evo will be available from 24 August 2026 through adidas, the adidas app and selected retail partners, retailing at €500/$500.

For runners preparing to take on mountains rather than pavements, adidas believes its latest innovation is built to keep speed alive long after the trail begins to bite.

Comrades starts stopwatch on century celebrations

Adnaan MohamedComrades Marathon, Features, News, PreviewLeave a Comment on Comrades starts stopwatch on century celebrations
By Adnaan Mohamed

The Comrades Marathon has started the countdown to its biggest chapter yet.

The 2027 Down Run, on Sunday, 13 June, will celebrate the 100th edition of the Ultimate Human Race, with the finish moving to the Kings Park Rugby Precinct in Durban and the entry cap rising to a record 28,000 runners.

The centenary campaign, The Greatest Story Ever Run, was unveiled at Kings Park on Wednesday, alongside a special 100th-edition logo.

The slogan, selected from more than 200 submissions from the Comrades community, neatly captures an event whose history has been built kilometre by gruelling kilometre since 1921.

For CMA General Manager Alain Dalais, the centenary is an opportunity for a new generation to add its own footprints to an extraordinary legacy.

“The Comrades Marathon has such a rich history, from the pioneers of the 1920s who ran to pay tribute to their comrades in arms from the Great War, to the hundreds of thousands of runners who have shaped the legacy of this phenomenal event by adding their own stories to Comrades Marathon lore over the past century.”

“Now in 2027, we get to add a glorious 100th chapter to this story as we celebrate the centenary of one of the world’s greatest running events, and we invite our 2027 entrants to honour those who came before them while contributing to this next chapter of the race.”

The numbers surrounding the race are almost as imposing as the hills.

The 28,000-entry ceiling will make 2027 the largest Comrades field ever, surpassing the 24,172 entries recorded for the 2025 Down Run and the 24,636 entries for the 2019 Up Run.

CMA Race Director Sue Forge says the bigger field has been backed by detailed operational planning.

“While we want as many runners as responsibly possible to experience this historic centenary race, the safety of our participants, volunteers, spectators and communities remains our foremost priority.”

Traffic management, transport, crowd control and venue operations will all receive additional attention as the CMA prepares to squeeze another sizeable slice of humanity onto the road.

The Kings Park move should provide breathing room at the business end of the race. Forge says the sports fields will offer more space for the finish area and race village, with improved runner flow, medical services, recovery, hospitality, transport and post-race operations.

The route is expected to measure approximately 91km, although the official distance will only be confirmed after formal measurement following roadworks. The 2025 Down Run measured 89.98km, while the longest Comrades route was 92km in 1971.

There is another welcome piece of news for aspiring centurions: entry fees will remain unchanged.

Entries open on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, through three phases. Green Number and Yellow Number athletes receive first access, followed by CMA Members and then general entries.

For CMA Chairperson Mark Leathers, the launch is merely the starting gun.

“Our 2027 race will be the largest edition of the Comrades Marathon yet, and we know that this launch is just the beginning of an incredibly exciting build-up to the next Down Run, and the start of an exciting next century of the race.”

The 2027 Down Run starts at 05:00 from Pietermaritzburg City Hall, with a 12-hour time limit and the finish at Kings Park.

A century of sweat, sacrifice, heartbreak and heroics has brought Comrades to this point.

Now 28,000 runners get the chance to leave their footprints on history.

The greatest story ever run is ready for another chapter.

Dewald van Niekerk eyes sixth straight SA Squash Crown

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By Adnaan Mohamed

Dewald van Niekerk (pictured above) is ready to turn the glass court into his personal playground as he hunts a sixth straight Growthpoint SA Senior Nationals crown at Makers Landing from August 20 to 22 at the V& A Waterfront in Cape Town.

The SA Country Districts star has been the man to beat since Rodney Durbach ended his run in 2020. Van Niekerk answered that defeat by winning his first national title in 2021 and has been swinging his racquet like a wrecking ball ever since.

Last year, he smashed through Steve Coppinger’s record of four consecutive titles, set between 2010 and 2013.

Now history is knocking again.

Standing in his way are the Groenewald brothers, Damian and Luhann, seeded second and third respectively.

Damian has already shown Van Niekerk can be pushed to the edge. He took the champion to five games at July’s Growthpoint Jarvis-Kaplan interprovincial tournament and will open against fellow Northerns player Judah Phillips.

Luhann, one of South Africa’s brightest young squash prospects, faces a baptism of fire against 2019 champion JP Brits.

Fourth seed John Anderson meets Eastern Province’s Dean Venter.

The women’s draw has its own tasty subplot.

Six-time champion and defending champion Alex Commins is absent, leaving Eastern Province ace Hayley Ward with the No 1 seeding.

Hayley Ward (EP) heads the women’s field for the Growthpoint SA Senior Nationals squash championships to be played at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront from August 20 22. Picture credits: Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images  

Northerns second seed Helena Hudson faces Keschia Schlebusch, while third seed and 2021 champion Lizelle Muller, Van Niekerk’s sister, takes on Lara Patrick.

Ward has finished runner-up for the past two years and will be desperate to turn silver into gold. Her first hurdle is Western Province’s Kim McDonald.

Fourth seed Alexa Pienaar faces former champion Milnay Louw in a mouth-watering opener.

Pienaar is a former University Sport SA champion, while Louw lifted the national crown in 2017 and 2019.

With reputations, records and bragging rights on the line, the all-glass court at the V&A Waterfront is set for three days of high-octane squash.

Growthpoint Properties Group CEO Estienne de Klerk said the tournament showcases the depth of South African talent.

“The Growthpoint SA Senior National Squash Championships brings together the very best of South African squash, from established champions to the next generation, showcasing the depth of talent in South African in this sport,” he said.

“Growthpoint is proud to provide Space to Thrive by supporting a championship that gives these athletes a national stage on which to compete at their best.”

City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith said the tournament had become an important part of the sporting calendar.

“The City of Cape Town is proud to continue its support for the Growthpoint SA Squash Nationals in 2026,” Smith said.

“The championships have become an important platform for raising the profile of squash while creating opportunities to develop the country’s most talented athletes.”

V&A Waterfront head of public relations Donald Kau said: “The Growthpoint SA Nationals tournament continues to bring incredible energy to our neighbourhood while showcasing the V&A Waterfront as a destination for world-class experiences.”

The U15 Nationals will also take place, giving the next generation their own taste of the national spotlight.

For Van Niekerk, the mission is brutally simple: win again.

Six titles are within reach. The squash ball is in his court.

Sosibo ready to turn up the heat in Tshwane

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By Adnaan Mohamed

Cacisile Sosibo is no longer knocking politely on the door of South African road running. She is kicking it open, one kilometre at a time.

The 28-year-old Boxer Athletics Club speedster heads into Sunday’s Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K with her eyes firmly fixed on a top-five finish, carrying the kind of confidence that can make even Pretoria’s notorious hills look like speed bumps.

Sosibo has enjoyed a sizzling 2026 campaign, lowering her 10km personal best to 32:16 at the SPAR Women’s Grand Prix Durban leg in June and dipping under 32:45 three times this season.

Then came Durban.

She clocked 32:36 to finish sixth in a quality international field at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K, a performance that gave her belief and plenty of bite.

“Durban was amazing for me this year. I ran a PB at SPAR and got a top-six finish at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K, which gave me a big confidence boost,” said the KwaZulu-Natal-born runner, now based in Soweto.

Her legs have been talking loudly ever since.

On Sunday, she ran 34:01 for third at the Totalsports Women’s Race Joburg, less than 24 hours after winning the senior women’s 10km title at the Central Gauteng Cross Country Championships.

That is some serious mileage in the bank.

Sosibo knows what it feels like to mix it with the best. At the 2023 World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia, she finished 10th in the half marathon in a personal best 1:09:31.

Now, under the watchful eye of legendary coach Michael ‘Sponge’ Seme, who has also guided four-time Olympian Stephen Mokoka, she believes the old magic is returning.

“Things have been going well for me this year. I feel like the Cacisile who was competing back in 2023. I’m coming back slowly but surely.”

Tshwane, however, is ready to collect its toll.

The hilly, high-altitude route can chew up ambitious runners like a hungry school of piranhas. Sosibo knows a personal best may be asking for too much.

“Tshwane is a tougher course with hills at altitude, so I’m not expecting a PB. My target is to race smart and run with the lead pack for as long as possible.”

Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports, believes her Durban performance has changed the conversation.

“Cacisile’s 2026 season has been hugely encouraging, and her sixth-place finish in Durban showed that she can compete with a strong international field,” Meyer said. “We’re looking forward to seeing her build on that performance in Tshwane.”

The race is sold out, with the gun going at 08:00 from Stanza Bopape Street in Arcadia.

For Sosibo, the mission is clear: climb with courage, conserve the fuel and unleash the finishing kick when the road finally points home.

Her comeback may be labelled “slowly but surely”.

On Sunday, she will be hoping it looks anything but slow.

Rassie Erasmus hits back at All Blacks slow-play claims

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Adnaan Mohamed

The first Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series has already produced its opening skirmish.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has dismissed suggestions that South Africa deliberately slows the game at set pieces, insisting his team will stick to its systems when the All Blacks arrive at 10bet Ellis Park on Saturday.

“There are always three truths: New Zealand’s truth, the truth people believe, and our truth,” Erasmus said.

The comments come as the pre-Test needle begins to prick. New Zealand has promoted a high-intensity, multi-phase style, with suggestions that the Springboks could seek to disrupt that rhythm.

Erasmus is having none of it.

“In our last two games against New Zealand in Auckland and Wellington, people can go and look at those games and ask were we slowing those down. They beat us in Auckland, and we got a good result in Wellington.”

For Erasmus, Test rugby is not about satisfying outside narratives but more about surviving the furnace when pressure reaches boiling point.

“We believe there’s a certain way to win big games and we think it will be a grind.”

That grind could become the defining feature of Saturday’s opening act.

“When you’re under pressure and you attack, it’s tough to maintain cohesion,” Erasmus said. “We will try to find a balance when games are really tight, but we have a system to fall back on that protects the players.”

Tony Brown’s influence has also helped shape the Boks’ attacking approach.

“Since Tony Brown, former All Black flyhalf and current Springbok assistant coach, has been with us, we feel as though we’ve been on the right track.”

SA Rugby laws advisor Jaco Peyper then entered the fray, offering a technical explanation of the much-discussed 30-second set-piece law.

“The law is very clear. From the moment the referee puts his foot down to mark the spot, not from the whistle, there is 30 seconds to form a lineout or scrum.”

Peyper said teams could manage the moments before the mark is made within the laws, while opponents who are ready to play can apply pressure.

“There’s nothing in the law that says you can’t idle before the mark is given.”

He also pointed out that teams can disrupt tempo through repeated infringements at breakdowns and mauls.

The whistle, in other words, could become a metronome for a Test where every second matters.

Peyper has full confidence in the officials appointed for the four-Test series, particularly England’s Matthew Carley, who will referee Saturday’s opener.

“You’re going to have a firm referee. Someone who deals decisively at the breakdown and is very strong on anything negative or cynical. And he does not get influenced by the home crowd.”

That could be music to the ears of both coaching boxes.

Erasmus expects the All Blacks to bring a blue-chip attacking blueprint to Johannesburg.

“You can see it on social media. They’re advocating a high intensity, running game, with multi-phase attacks. And when you analyse it, it definitely shows in the stats.”

Dave Rennie, who Erasmus previously faced during his Munster days, adds another tactical layer to the contest.

“The big battle is going to be when they have the ball, they’ll have total control of what they do with it, and when we have the ball, we’ll have total control of what we do with it.”

The biggest concern for Erasmus is the All Blacks’ breakdown work.

“What concerns us most is how physical and brutal they are at the breakdown. They take the ball through so many phases and then they put in a well-timed grubber kick. Their attacking kicks are as dangerous as when they have ball-in-hand.”

Away from the tactical chessboard, Erasmus admitted the Springboks are embracing the occasion.

“We all appreciate and respect what this series means,” he said.

“I’d love it if the people at Ellis Park create the same atmosphere as that which the people did in Cape Town. The haka was heard 100%, which makes it something special.”

The Springbok coach also knows the All Blacks remain capable of delivering a sting.

“We know how good the All Blacks are. Since 2018, when they were leading the world, we’ve always wondered when they’re going to beat us again, and they will beat us again in future, but hopefully not this weekend.”

Erasmus will name his team on Thursday, with captain Siya Kolisi and prop Ox Nche the only injury concerns.

“The only two doubtful players are Siya and Ox, who are coming along well,” he said. “I wouldn’t say either is confirmed out, but if they get through training today it could go either way. Apart from those two, everybody else is available.”

The All Blacks are also expected to unveil a few tactical surprises.

“They’ll have plans they didn’t show in the Nations Championship, little things, such as lineout variations, maybe a front peel or back peel move, and there are things that have caught us out before.”

The stage is set.

The talking has started.

Now Ellis Park gets the final word.

South Africa face New Zealand at 17h10 on Saturday, with the match live on SuperSport.

Boxer Super Run Durban 2026: Pick Your Wave

Adnaan MohamedBoxer Super Run, Event Update!, PreviewLeave a Comment on Boxer Super Run Durban 2026: Pick Your Wave
By Adnaan Mohamed

The Boxer Super Run Durban is giving runners something increasingly precious in road running: a choice.

When the fourth edition hits Snell Parade and Blue Lagoon Park on Sunday, 18 October, the 5km race will offer four distinct start waves, allowing participants to decide whether they want to chase the clock, chase good times or watch South Africa’s fastest feet turn the beachfront into a blur.

The formula is simple, and perhaps that is the secret of its appeal.

The Open Wave fires off at 07:00, providing the competitive launchpad for club runners, school teams, serious athletes and anyone with a personal best rattling around in their head.

Then comes the Super Social Wave, running from 08:00 to 09:30, where the stopwatch takes a back seat and personality moves to the front of the pack. Families, friends, colleagues, charities and costumed crews can walk, jog and laugh their way through the 5km.

“The beauty of the Boxer Super Run is that every participant can choose their place on the start line,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports.

“From runners chasing a personal best in the Open Wave and groups bringing the energy in the Super Social Wave, to the country’s top athletes battling for the Elite titles, each wave brings its own excitement and makes the Boxer Super Run a truly inclusive 5km experience.”

That inclusivity is the race’s biggest strength. Five kilometres can be a gentle introduction to road running or five kilometres of controlled suffering for an athlete hunting every available second.

Boxer Super Run by Anthony Grote

“The 5km distance makes this event accessible enough for someone taking on their first run, while still providing a genuine test for experienced athletes,” says Lee-Ann Pillay, Head of Marketing at Boxer Superstores.

“It is incredibly rewarding to see such a diverse group of people come together, each with their own reason for being there, but all united by the same 5km journey.”

At 09:45, the mood changes gear when the elite women take centre stage. The elite men follow at 10:00, turning the final act into a high-octane sprinting spectacle.

For the elite athletes, five kilometres is hardly a Sunday stroll. It is a knife-edge dance where a misplaced stride can cost seconds and a well-timed surge can blow the race wide open.

Pillay believes the four-wave structure captures the spirit of the event.

“With four distinct waves offering four very different ways to experience race day, the Boxer Super Run continues to demonstrate that 5km running is for everyone, whether you’re chasing the clock, chasing a personal milestone or simply chasing a great day out.”

The 2026 event costs R100, is open to entrants aged nine and older, and includes a performance T-shirt, goodie bag, timing chip and finisher’s medal. Entries opened on 6 August and, according to the supplied event information, are now sold out. The official Boxer announcement confirms the 18 October date and the four-wave structure.

The starting line may have four doors, but the destination is the same: a memorable 5km through Durban.

Some runners will chase glory. Some will chase a PB. Others will chase their friends.

All will be chasing the finish.

Xaba puts the hammer down in Joburg

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By Adnaan Mohamed

Glenrose Xaba saved her sharpest kick for the closing kilometres, powering to a commanding 32:11 victory at the Totalsports Women’s Race Joburg at Marks Park, Emmarentia, on Sunday.

The South African turned a demanding 10km into a tactical game of patience, pace and positioning, picking her moment before putting daylight between herself and the chasing pack with about two kilometres remaining.

It was a performance built for the hill

Xaba had initially planned to shadow Kenya’s Brenda Kenei, who arrived with a 30:29 personal best and ambitious sub-30:30 intentions. The Joburg elevation and rolling route soon exposed where the race could be won.

“I saw a post that there would be a lady aiming for sub-30:30, and I said I would go with her. I knew the course was tough, but I would try my best to stick with her,” Xaba said.

“The beginning was hard because she was pushing, but I tried my best to keep the pace. I noticed that when it came to the hills, she was not as strong, so I tried to close the gap on the downhills so that when we approached the hills, I could stick with her. I think the plan worked for me.”

It certainly did.

With the final climbs looming, Xaba shifted gears and turned the race into a solo pursuit.

“I think it was two kilometres to go when I broke away from her. I knew that when we got to one kilometre to go, we were going to climb again.”

Her reward was a second victory of the year and another confidence boost ahead of the World Championships.

“It feels amazing to cross the finish line first. I think it’s my second win of the year, so I am very happy. It shows that my training is going well. I am focusing on the World Champs, so when I come to a race, I am coming with a full programme.”

Top Three: Brenda Kenei, Glenrose Xaba and Cacisile Sosibo. Photo’s Tobias Ginsberg

Kenei finished second, with South African Cacisile Sosibo third.

Xaba’s victory also put a distinctly local gloss on a series increasingly becoming a meeting point for South African talent and international challengers. Durban went to Lesotho’s Neheng Khatala in 32:06, while Kenya’s Daisilah Jerono won Cape Town in 31:29.

Stillwater Sports managing director Michael Meyer praised the Joburg finale and the thousands of women who helped turn the series into a national celebration.

“The Totalsports Women’s Race Joburg was the perfect culmination of this year’s three-race series,” Meyer said.

Totalsports head of marketing Nikki Crous echoed the sentiment, saying women across Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg had created “three truly memorable race days”.

With Busiswa providing the soundtrack and PinkDrive remaining central to the campaign, the series finished with plenty of colour, community and running shoes pounding the pavement.

Xaba supplied the final flourish.

Joburg had its champion. The 2026 Women’s Month racing relay had its perfect finishing kick.

RESULTS – TOP 10 / Totalsports Women’s Race Johannesburg 2026 10km

Date: Sunday 16 August 2026

Start Time: 08:00

Start Venue: Judith Rd at Orange St intersection

Finish Venue: Orange Road and Buffalo Road Junction, Marks Park

Top 10 Elite Field

1 Glenrose Xaba (South Africa) 32:11, 2 Brenda Kenei (Kenya) 32:28, 3 Cacisile Sosibo (South Africa) 34:01, 4 Irvette Van Zyl (South Africa) 34:23, 5 Emma Pallant-Browne (Great Britain) 34:44, 6 Karabo Mailula (South Africa) 35:02, 7 Dikeledi Majara (Lesotho) 35:41, 8 Carina Swiegers (South Africa) 37:04, 9 Cornelia Joubert (South Africa) 38:19, 10 Maria Shai (South Africa) 39:06

GET YOUR FULL RESULTS HERE:

All Blacks turn up volume ahead of first RGR Springboks Test

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By Adnaan Mohamed

The All Blacks have turned up the volume ahead of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (RGR), with the Bulls bearing the brunt of a 50-19 demolition at Loftus Versfeld.

New Zealand ran in eight tries in Pretoria on Saturday, producing their most complete performance of the South African tour to date and finishing their provincial warm-ups unbeaten.

It was a statement built on scrum power, breakdown brutality and attacking freedom. Josh Moorby, Leroy Carter and captain Codie Taylor all crossed twice as the All Blacks raced into a 24-0 halftime lead.

The Bulls eventually found some life, scoring three tries, yet New Zealand kept the scoreboard ticking like a taxi meter on a busy Saturday night.

For Dave Rennie, the performance offered useful clues ahead of next Saturday’s first Test against the Springboks in Johannesburg.

“50 points against a very good Bulls side is a positive,” Rennie said.

“We played a team that was prepared to play and really took it to us. I thought our set piece was strong, especially the scrum.”

The All Blacks created 11 line breaks to the Bulls’ one and showed improved discipline, giving Rennie plenty of selection headaches with his Test squad now taking shape.

“That certainly wasn’t our Test side tonight, and so there will be a number of changes,” he said.

“There were some really good performances that will put pressure on us from a selection point of view.”

Rennie also knows the Bulls were not a Test-strength opponent. The Pretoria side had not played since June and had limited preparation following their URC final appearance.

That reality explains why Rennie was quick to sound the brakes on the victory parade.

“What we know is that the intensity levels and the quality we’re going to come up against next week are three, four, or fivefolds, but we’ve played reasonably well on tour, and we know we need to up the ante.”

The All Blacks could welcome back Will Jordan and Cam Roigard, who have progressed from their respective injuries. Damian McKenzie remains a concern with an ankle problem, while Rennie hopes he can train on Tuesday.

New Zealand captain Codie Taylor delivered his own warning.

“No disrespect to the Bulls but they [the Springboks] will lift the tempo and physicality. That’s what Test match footy is all about. It’s an exciting week ahead.”

Loftus was the dress rehearsal. Ellis Park is where the curtain rises.

And the Boks have heard the warning bell.

Brianna Robinson rallies to national glory

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By Adnaan Mohamed

Brianna Robinson turned years of hard work into a national title after producing a stirring comeback at the Growthpoint South African Junior Nationals at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Saturday.

The Joburg Squash player recovered from 2-1 down to beat Northerns’ Elzandri Janse van Rensburg 3-2 in a gripping U19 women’s final.

Robinson found her rhythm when the match entered its business end, moving with purpose and using the court like a chessboard as she pinned Janse van Rensburg deep before finishing the job 11-6, 11-5 in the final two games.

The victory fulfilled a goal Robinson has carried since first competing at the tournament.

“This has been a big goal for me since I started playing this tournament, so I’m very proud to have got the win,” she said.

“I am so grateful to everyone who has helped me over the past few years to make this sort of result possible.”

Janse van Rensburg, the Growthpoint U17 champion in 2024 and 2025, had to settle for third after KwaZulu-Natal’s Makayla Naidoo beat Boland’s Dane Meintjies 3-0 to finish second.

There was more five-game drama in the U19 men’s final, where Northerns top seed Juan-Corne Brand edged Western Province’s Joseph Feast 3-2.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 15: Juan-Corne Brand in his match against Joseph Feast during day 3 of the Growthpoint SA Squash Nationals 2026 – Juniors at Makers Landing, V&A Waterfront on August 15, 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images)

Feast appeared to have the match in his grasp after Brand squandered a match point in the fourth game, forcing a decider. Brand steadied himself, raced into an early lead and held his nerve to win 11-6 in the fifth.

The scoreline, 3-11, 12-10, 12-10, 10-12, 11-6, underlined a final played at full throttle.

The U17 girls’ final produced another test of nerve.

Northerns left-hander Starla Phillips recovered from losing the opening game 11-8 to beat Border’s Kate van Biljon 3-1. Phillips repeatedly found the back corners with precision length before unleashing a sharp short game.

She survived a late wobble after allowing three match points to disappear while leading 10-6 in the fourth, then sealed the title with a winning backhand drop.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 15: Starla Philips in her match against Kate van Biljon during day 3 of the Growthpoint SA Squash Nationals 2026 – Juniors at Makers Landing, V&A Waterfront on August 15, 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images)

“I’m feeling good and very happy right now,” Phillips said.

“I’ve had some good results this year, and also a few bad ones, but I am glad I was able to finish it off today.”

Phillips was particularly pleased to settle an old score against Van Biljon, who beat her in the 2024 Growthpoint U15 girls’ final.

“Kate and I have been playing each other for many years and always have a good game, so I’m happy to get the win today.”

Christian Swanepoel completed the U17 winners’ list by beating provincial teammate Ruan Botha 3-0 in the boys’ final.

Christian Swanepoel Photo by Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images

The championships produced a healthy dose of sweat, skill and sporting theatre, with South Africa’s emerging squash stars showing that when the pressure cooker starts whistling, composure can be the sharpest weapon in the racket bag.

Final results

U19 women: 1 Brianna Robinson (Joburg Squash), 2 Makayla Naidoo (KZN), 3 Elzandri Janse van Rensburg (Northerns), 4 Dane Meintjies (Boland).

U19 men: 1 Juan-Corne Brand (Northerns), 2 Joseph Feast (WP), 3 Thomas Boutall (WP), 4 Benji Newman (EP).

U17 girls: 1 Starla Phillips (Northerns), 2 Kate van Biljon (Border), 3 Rylee Howells (KZN), 4 Chelsey Cameron (KZN).

U17 boys: 1 Christian Swanepoel (Eden), 2 Cobus Schimper (Free State), 3 Ruan Botha (Eden), 4 Ross Smorfitt (Eden).

Doreen Cherop targets Tshwane 10K victory

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By Adnaan Mohamed

Doreen Cherop arrived in South Africa as an unknown quantity. She left Durban as a 10km winner. Now the Kenyan has the Tshwane 10K in her sights.

Cherop will return to action at the sold-out Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K on Sunday 23 August, carrying the confidence of a stunning 30:43 victory in Durban last month.

The 22-year-old produced a lifetime best on her international 10km debut, upsetting pre-race favourite Brenda Jepchirchir and announcing herself with a finish-line flourish.

“The 10km course was amazing and the race was very well organised. I wasn’t expecting to win. I was aiming for a podium finish, only to find myself in a winning position,” Cherop said.

“I think I won because I believed in my training.”

That belief now faces a sterner examination in Tshwane, where Cherop will confront another high-quality field and the demands of racing at altitude.

She knows the script cannot be copied and pasted from Durban.

“It feels good to run with champions. I am still gaining more experience on how to run 10km. So I want to run my own race and do my best.”

It is a quietly confident approach from an athlete whose first international 10km outing produced a result loud enough to turn heads across the road-running world.

Cherop has the speed to light the fuse. Tshwane will test her tactical patience and ability to manage the pressure of arriving as a favourite.

Stillwater Sports managing director Michael Meyer expects another fiercely contested women’s race.

“Doreen’s performance in Durban was a great introduction to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, and we’re excited to see what she can produce when she takes on the challenging Tshwane course,” Meyer said.

“We’re expecting another exciting battle for the podium in Tshwane.”

The race starts at 08:00 from Stanza Bopape Street in Arcadia, with the same road serving as the finish.

The 2026 series has already produced serious fireworks. Adriaan Wildschutt won Gqeberha in 27:47, Brenda Jepchirchir claimed the women’s race in 30:15 and Joshua Cheptegei scorched Durban in 27:19. The Cape Town event was cancelled because of a severe weather forecast.

Tshwane is next.

Cherop has already shown she can finish with the champagne.

Now she wants another taste.