ADVERTORIAL
MIDDLE DISTANCE STAR KYLA JACOBS SIGNS WITH PUMA
This has been a breakthrough year for Kyla Jacobs . The success that the 28-year-old Somerset West-based athlete has enjoyed in 2023 , on track , road and cross country , over distances from 1500m to 10km , really proves her versatility as an athlete , and her hunger for success in the sport .
She represented her country at the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst , Australia , finishing 37th in the senior women ’ s 10km , then won the 5000m title at the South African Championships in April , having placed third in 2022 . In June , Jacobs finished second in the inaugural SA 5km Champs and was selected to run for her country at the inaugural World Road Running Championships 5km in Riga , Latvia on 1 October , where she finished 16th in a new personal best 15:51 , taking 30 seconds off her PB of 16:21 , run in Germany in May .
“ I joined PUMA because I can see myself growing with them not only as an elite athlete , but also as a person ,” says Jacobs . “ The PUMA team has been so welcoming , and I really appreciate their supportive and energising company culture ! PUMA is investing so much into innovation , and it is backed up by great performances by top athletes . I look forward to being part of their growth and success .”
Geared to Go Forever Faster
On the track , Jacobs will race in PUMA evoSpeed Distance Nitro Elite 2 spikes . On the road , she will compete in the PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 2 , while the PUMA Forever Run Nitro is her everyday training shoe . Of the Deviate Elite Nitro 2 road running shoe , she says : “ I like the versatility of this shoe . It has a steady underfoot with solid grip , yet it nails the propulsive and snappy ride you look for in a carbon racing shoe .”
Going into the World Road Running Champs , Jacobs had set herself the goals of a top 25 finish in the 5km race , which she convincingly achieved , and now her target the 2024 Paris Olympics . She will be chasing the 5000m qualifying time of 14:57 , and further goals are to run 8:50 or better on the track over 3000m and 32:10 or faster over 10km on the road .
“ Kyla embodies our Forever Faster spirit , both on and off the track , so it was an absolute must to sign her to our Elite running team ,” says PUMA SA Run Train Marketing Manager Rae Trew- Browne . “ We are very excited to welcome her to the PUMA fam , and look forward to working with her as we continue to push the sport of running forward .”
Kyla ’ s Personal Bests
1500m |
4:19.57 |
Cape Town , South Africa |
26 Apr 2022 |
1 mile |
4:39.67 |
Cape Town , South Africa |
24 Apr 2023 |
3000m |
9:01.54 |
Cape Town , South Africa |
14 Apr 2023 |
5000m |
15:20.61 |
Cape Town , South Africa |
17 Apr 2023 |
10,000m |
36:49.94 |
High Point ( NC ), USA |
14 May 2015 |
5km |
15:51 |
Riga , Latvia |
1 Oct 2023 |
10km |
33:28 |
Durban , South Africa |
26 Jun 2022 |
Follow @ pumasouthafrica on Instagram and Twitter .
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