Our women's runners are stepping up

When my interest in road running took flight in the nineties, South Africa had some world-class elite men, but they were not the brightest stars. The country's best long-distance runners were women.

- Wesley Botton

The likes of Hendrick Ramaala and Gert Thys were among the top athletes on the international circuit, but they couldn't hold a candle to Elana Meyer, who was absolutely phenomenal.

Meyer broke world records over 15km and 21km, and she won the world half-marathon title – and she was not alone.

Locked in a domestic rivalry with Meyer, Colleen de Reuck was almost as good, and before she became an American citizen and switched allegiance, De Reuck won the prestigious Berlin Marathon (she was the last South African to achieve the feat).