James is passionate about athletics and has been involved in the sport for several years at club, provincial, national and international level. He has been the provincial and national athletics federation chairperson and served on the council of the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) and the IAAF Road Running Commission. He has managed several provincial teams and South African teams at international competitions.
James has been actively coaching athletes of all abilities for over 25 years, from those wanting to finish a 5km or 10km to those representing South Africa on the international stage. He is a versatile coach who has coached track (sprint, hurdles and middle distance), field (long and high jump, shot put and discus throw), cross country, road running (5km, 10km, half marathon and marathon) and ultra distance (Two Oceans, Comrades and 100km).
He coached at UCT for 25 years, and assisted many athletes progress from beginners to making provincial teams, and gained extensive experience in assisting athletes to go from very unfit to being able to comfortably complete distances up to marathons at whatever pace they choose.
Included in the coaching certificates he holds are SAAAU Level 1 Sprints, ASA Level 1 and 2 Middle Distance, ASA Level 1 and 2 Sprints. He has also completed several provincial level courses and attended seminars both locally and internationally.
Tanya has represented South Africa at the World Student Games in the Half Marathon and at the CUSA Games in the 800m and 5000m. She was the South African Student Champion for the Half Marathon and won silver medals at the SA Student Track and Field Championships in the 5000m and 10 000m. She was also selected for the South African team to the World Student Cross Country Championships.
She has presented Western Province on the track, road and at cross country and has been the WP Senior Champion at 1500m, 5000m and 10 000m and won the WP Junior Half Marathon Championships as well as winning the junior category at the Two Oceans Half Marathon.
Tanya is a qualified coach, having obtained the ASA level 1 and 2 coaching certificates, as well as the IAAF Kids Athletics qualification.
