Roodepoort judo sensei Katja Bruwer performed well at the Trumpeter of Saeckingen Run in Germany, claiming first place in her age category (60–64) for the third consecutive time.

The race, held in late July, saw Bruwer complete the six-loop 6.19km course in an impressive time of 00:33:34.

“I have taken part in the event for the past three years. In 2024 and 2025, I competed in the 4.19km Fitness Run, but decided to challenge myself further this year by entering the more competitive 6.19km Grand Prix Run.

“It was a beautiful event, with a scenic route featuring historical sights along the way,” she said.

Bruwer also claimed second place at the recent Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) Championships, which served as trials for the SA Cross Country Championships to be held on September 5 in Pretoria.

Bruwer, who has been involved in judo since 1974, has also built an impressive list of achievements in running over the years.

“I have been running ever since I can remember, but just recreationally. When I was in my late 20s, I started running some road races and ran my first Comrades Marathon in 1991.

“I ran three more after that, with my last one being in 2010, but that was not really a distance that appealed to me,” she said.

In 2005, she achieved her first cross-country milestone when she finished third in the Central Gauteng 10km Road Running Championships in the veteran (40–49) category and represented CGA at the SA 10km Road Running Championships.

“I do really enjoy cross country. Last year, I achieved fourth place at the CGA Cross Country Championships. It was not a podium finish, but good enough to be selected to run at the SA Cross Country Championships, which were held in Mpumalanga.

“This was in the Grandmaster category (60–64). Our team, consisting of the top four runners, managed to win a silver medal in the team competition,” she said.