After producing a memorable performance by breaking the South African U20 3 000m mark to close out his junior career, distance runner Amogelang Tatai has some big goals for the 2026 season, setting his sights on another national record.
Tatai, who won the 1 500m and 3 000m titles at the SA U20 Championships in Cape Town earlier this year, completed an impressive 2025 campaign by securing victory over seven-and-a-half laps at a meeting in L’Etang-Sale on Reunion island last month.
He completed the race in 7:57.33, becoming the first South African junior athlete to shatter the eight-minute barrier and slicing nearly three seconds off the national U20 mark of 8:00.08 which had been held by Tshamano Setone for nearly 20 years.
“It was a big goal for me this year, so I’m relieved I broke the record, but I’m not done yet,” said 19-year-old Tatai.
He hoped to qualify for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland to be held in March next year.
In order to do so, however, he needed to achieve the qualifying standard of 7:33.00 for the global showpiece.
Should he qualify at an outdoor meeting, he will obliterate the SA 3 000m record of 7:39.55 set by Elroy Gelant in Gent, Belgium in February 2014.
And if he can do it at an indoor event, he is likely to break the national short-course record of 7:32.99 set by Adriaan Wildschutt in Chorzow, Poland in August last year.
‘I believe I can do it’
A coaching science student at North-West University, where he is coached by Jean Verster, Tatai was confident he could meet the required standard and destroy more records along the way.
“I’m aiming to qualify in the 3 000m event for the World Indoor Championships. I have to run a time of 7:33.00 but I believe I can do it,” he said.
Having won the junior title at the SA Cross Country Championships in Middelburg this season, Tatai also hoped to challenge for the senior crown at next year’s national championships as he looked to take a step up against South Africa’s top distance-running stars.
“After world indoors, my other goal for next year is in cross country, to become the SA champion again.”
* Featured image of Amogelang Tatai by Cecilia van Bers
