Pepler on comeback trail after injury setback

Kiana Pepler is set to make her comeback this weekend (May 3) in the opening CGA cross-country league meeting at the Kwa-Thema Sports Complex.

This marks her return to competitive racing after a stress fracture in the aftermath of the national cross-country championships last September put her out for months, dashing any hopes of competing in the recently concluded track and field season.

The past year was a roller-coaster for the Benoni Harriers Athletic Club (BHAC) athlete.

She competed with minor niggles throughout the cross-country season but still won a silver at the CGA Champs and qualified for the nationals, where she clocked 10th place in 14:59,which earned CGA the team silver in the race.

But after her race at the nationals, she couldn’t put pressure on her leg or walk properly. An MRI revealed she had a Level 4b 9.5cm stress fracture on her shin.

“The moment I heard about my injury my heart dropped. I was pretty despondent for a few weeks after that as I didn’t really know what to think and how long it’s going to take to get back to where I was.”

Pepler’s recovery process appeared to be a masterclass in perseverance, suggesting that in the face of dealing with physical and psychological setbacks, progress can be achieved through determination and a positive mindset.

“It was definitely a mental game and a tough process. The first nine weeks was especially the most difficult as I could not do any physical activity.

“Once the rehab started, it definitely started getting better and my mindset became more positive as I was able to do some exercises. It was a sign that things are starting to get better and I knew I would be back soon.

“It was also a mental hurdle that I had to get over especially knowing where I could’ve been. I still watched my teammates run during the track season. It kept my mind on the goal. Although it was tough sitting on the sidelines, I was proud of watching my friends succeed in their races,” said Pepler.

Now fully recovered, Pepler returned to action at the BNAC Marathon on April 13, clocking 24:35 in the 5km race. She is extra motivated to make a mark when she competes in the 6km distance, an upgrade from the 4km she ran in last year.

“I am looking forward to seeing how far I can get and how well I can do, especially because I will be competing in a new distance. It’s definitely going to be challenging but I am looking forward to running and enjoying the new experience of the 6km race,” she said.

“My goal is to keep doing better in each race and to get back to where I was as soon as possible. I would definitely like to shoot my shot at nationals as nothing is impossible.”

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