After recovering from a hamstring injury in 2021 and 2022, Eastridge speedster Tamzin Thomas, 25, is back with a bang – crossing the finish line first in 100m final at the University Sports South Africa (USSA) track and field championships, in Bloemfontein, at the weekend.
The former Junior African champion, All-African Games silver medallist and 200m national champion started out her running career at Imperial Primary School in Beacon Valley and later the Western Cape Sports School and at UWC.
She last represented Western Province Athletics in 2017 before moving up north to continue her studies at the University of Johannesburg and is currently at the North West University in Potchefstroom.
Over the years she has represented the country at a number of international races, including the 8th IAAF World Youth Championships in Ukraine, in 2013 and IAAF world under-20 championships in Poland, in 2016 and attended training camps in Italy, rubbing shoulders with South African track and field royalty, including former Olympic and world 400m record holder, Wade van Niekerk and former 100m African record holder, Akani Simbine.
Thomas says growing up, her twin sister Tamlyn, who has made a name for herself as a national volleyball player, was always faster than her. Although both have followed separate paths, the road always leads back home to Mitchell’s Plain.
“I was in Cape Town in December, to spend time with the family,” she said. “However, I had to continue training and would wake up at 7am to get ready for training and by 8am I would be on Parow track,” she said.
“Saturdays, I did hills on Boyes Drive and then went for a walk on Muizenberg beach. January my family and I went for vacation to Mossel Bay before I returned to Potchefstroom to start my athletics season,” she said.
Thomas finished a close second to Carina Horn, in the 100m final, at the ASA Track and Field championships, in Potchefstroom, a fortnight ago. “I was really surprised by how I executed the 100m final. I think once I saw myself next to Carina I started to panic. Also, I think that race is what I needed to believe in myself again and that I am stronger than I think,” she said.
“Hopefully, I can qualify for the World Student Games in China later this year, after that I’ll train for six weeks just to get stronger in the gym before I head over for a European championship in July,” she said.
With a number of international events on the horizon, the world athletics championships in Budapest, Hungary and next year’s Olympic Games in Paris, it’s understandable that she has her sights set on competing on the global stage. However, she prefers to take it one race at a time.
“Yes, that’s definitely on my goals list, but for now my main focus is to stay injury free and to get stronger and by getting that right, I’ll run faster which will then help me qualify for different championships,” she said.
“Each time I race, I hope it inspires a girl somewhere in Mitchell’s Plain and all over South Africa,” she said.
