Eleven-year-old runner Eva Hanekom recently rounded off the season by placing 22nd out of 43 runners at the 2026 South African Schools Athletics (SASA) National Cross Country Championships that took place on Saturday 3 October at Curro Sagewood in Midrand, Johannesburg.

This year’s participants at the cross country championships included top school-level and Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN) athletes representing all nine South African provinces.

Running highlights

Competing in hot, dry conditions at high altitude, the Fish Hoek Primary School learner dug deep to finish in the 22nd position, her father, Andre, recalled.

Hanekom’s national debut follows an outstanding bronze-medal performance at the Western Cape Schools Championships in Riversdale on Saturday 12 September.

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Representing Western Province, she ran the 3 km in 10:52, averaging 3:37/km—nearly a full minute faster than her time last year.

Breakthrough moment

Her podium finish anchored a dominant Cape Metro sweep.

This breakthrough moment comes after an exceptional season in which Hanekom competed in seven club races in the Western Province Athletics Cross-Country Club League earlier this year.

She also previously placed 29th out of 151 elite athletes at the ASA Club Cross Country Nationals in Pretoria.

The multi-talented athlete also enjoys hockey, swimming and mountain bikes, Hanekom credits her success to a rigorous training schedule.

Andre, praised her determination, noting that her achievements are a reminder of what hard work and consistency can achieve.

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