SA U20 3000m record holder Tatai reflects excellent 2025 season

Before Amogelang Tatai's heroics this week, the SA U20 3000m record had been one of the longest standing national age group records. But that all changed in the Reunion Islands last weekend, when the 19-year-old from  Klerksdorp became the first South African junior to break 8 minutes over seven and a half laps of the track.

Competing at the Oceán Indien International Meet alongside many of his Potch Track Club teammates including SA sprint champion Thamzin Thomas, Tatai clocked 7:57.33 to eclipse the mark of 8:00.08 set by Tshamano Setone in Pretoria in 2006. Lungile Bikwani coached the precocious Setone to a 13:49:54 clocking as a 19-year-old, 28:39 to take the bronze medal at the 2005 SA 10km championships and a birth at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. He believes that Tatai who was coached by Johan van Niekerk during his schooldays before joining Jean Verster's group at the North West University, is probably the best junior middle distance athlete that South Africa has produced since Setone.

Tatai in action at the Cape Milers Endurocad ASA Grand Prix at The Greenpoint Stadium in April, where he clocked a then personal best of 8:07.00. Photo Credit: Potch Track Club.

"Out of all the kids that I have seen, I saw that he had potential," said Bikwani who now coaches at King Edwards School in Johannesburg. "But he was struggling with work ethic. For example when he went home during the school  holidays he did not train. His Coach at Klerksdorp High School asked me to have a word with him. I’m thankful that he listened and started working harder. His coach Spoke to Jean Verster at the Potch track Club who gave him a bursary and now his true potential showing. Well done and congrats!"

This performance during the competition on the Indian Ocean Island, is the cherry on top of a fruitful 2025 cake. Since matriculating last year and moving to 50km east to Potchefstroom at the beginning of this year, Tatai has set a slew of personal bests over 800m (1:58.04), 1500m (3:48.05) and the 3000m, while also winning the national junior 1500m/3000m double in Cape Town in March and the 2km and 7km junior men’s cross country titles.

Tatai celebrates his achievement with his Potch Track Club teammates include SA Marathon record holder and three-time Olympian Elroy Gelant. Photo Credit: Potch Track Club.

"Last year was quite difficult for me because I had to balance all my training and my studies because I was in matric," he told #TheTopRunner. "So this year my main goal for this year was to qualify for the U20 team that will represent South Africa at the World Cross Country Championships in the United States in January. For now I'm doing both the 1500m and the 3000m and then we'll see because I’m good at both. I'm not sure which is my main event. I know for sure in the last 100m I have the speed."

Sadly, Tatai's speed and class will be missing at the World Cross Country championships in Florida after he was left out of the SA Team. Because 2026 will be hist first year as a senior athlete, Tatai competed in the senior men's 10km event where he finished outside the top six (eleventh) and missed out on selection.