PUMA South Africa partner with National Champ runner Kyla Jacobs

PUMA South Africa has signed National Champion middle distance runner Kyla Jacobs.

Jacobs won the 5000m title at the South African Championships in April 2023, having placed third in 2022. The 28-year-old is a versatile runner and competes on track, road and cross country over distances of 1500m to 10km.

The Somerset West resident represented South Africa at the World Cross Country Championships held in Australia earlier this year, finishing 37th. She will represent South Africa at the World 5km Road Champs in Riga on 1 October 2023.

“Kyla embodies our Forever Faster spirit both on and off the track, so it was an absolute must to welcome her part of our Elite running team,” said PUMA SA Run Train Marketing Manager Rae Trew-Browne.

“We are very excited to welcome Kyla to the PUMA fam, and look forward to working with her as we continue to push the sport of running forward.”

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.

“I joined PUMA because I can see myself growing with them not only as an elite athlete but also as a person. The PUMA team has been so welcoming, and I really appreciate their supportive and energizing 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,” said Jacobs.

Of the Deviate Elite Nitro 2 road running shoe, she said: “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.”

Jacobs’ goals for 2023 are a Top 25 finish in the 5km race at the World Road Running Championships where she is hoping to run 15:35 or faster. The Paris Olympics is the target for 2024 and the target is meeting the 5000m qualifying time (14:57).