Running and shooting comes naturally to Brescia House School matriculant

Isla Thomas (18), from Brescia House School, has achieved a major milestone in her sporting career after being awarded her junior protea blazer for laser run.

The honour follows her participation in the 2025 Union Internationale de Pantathlon Moderne (UIPM) Laser Run World Championships, held on December 12 and 13, 2025.

Isla received national colours in recognition of her achievement, with the award formally approved by South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) on January 23, after an application submitted by the South African Modern Pentathlon Association (Sampa).

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For Isla, the achievement represents years of dedication, discipline, and perseverance in a sport she discovered when she was nine years old. “I started laser run when I was 9 years old. At the time I was participating in an event called Biathle, which is a run/swim event.

“After one of the league events, I saw some of my fellow competitors practicing their shooting and I was instantly intrigued. From there I learnt how to use the laser pistol and soon after I entered my first laser run.”

She added that it was incredible to have a laser run world championship on home ground. “I felt so proud to be able to compete in front of friends, family, and other familiar faces.”

One of the defining moments of Isla’s journey came during last year’s laser run nationals, where she achieved the qualifying time needed for her junior protea colours. “Throughout my race at last year’s laser run nationals, the only thing on my mind was achieving the time to obtain my junior protea colours.

“Before the final lap of my race, I had seen there was only about 2 minutes left for me to achieve this time. When I crossed the finish line I was convinced I hadn’t made it, but when my dad told me I was wrong, and that I had in fact made it, I was thrilled.”

She added that the moment she received the email from Sascoc saying she had achieved her junior protea colours for laser run was unreal. “It finally felt like all my hard work and dedication had become physical, and there was now something to show for it.

“Balancing matric and sport has been a challenge this year, but I’ve learnt that time management is the most important thing. Sometimes it is necessary to compromise sport for school, or vice versa, dependent on upcoming competitions or exams.”

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Laser run is a sport that combines both shooting and running, but for Isla, the running leg remains her toughest challenge.

“For me the run is the most difficult part of laser run as it is very physically demanding and requires me to pace myself very strategically in order to perform ideally. This is something that I often struggle to get right, but the support from my coaches at my running club, Fitness from Africa, has definitely had the biggest influence on me throughout my sporting journey.

Their constant support and understanding nature is what has inspired me to continue moving forward and to never give up.”

She added that the international competitions have taught her that, without discipline, resilience, and consistency, the end goal will be very difficult to achieve.

Looking ahead, Isla has ambitious plans for both academics and sport. She hopes to matriculate from Brescia with eight distinctions before attending the University of Pretoria to study chemical engineering.

Athletically, she plans to continue competing internationally and use her laser run training to assist into her training for modern pentathlon.

Her advice to aspiring athletes: “In order to be successful in anything you do, you have to enjoy the experience. So, set sights to achieve your South African colours but always remember to live in the moment and trust the process.”

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