Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 118, May 2019 | Page 50

RACE ADVERTORIAL
Record Winning
Streak Continues
Fresh off her record-breaking fifth victory in the Two Oceans Half Marathon,
Namibian Helalia Johannes smashed another record performance at the
SPAR Women’s Challenge in Port Elizabeth.
Run in ideal cool, overcast conditions, the race started with Helalia, Tadu and Irvette van Zyl setting
the initial pace, but at 4km, Irvette’s legs showed signs of fatigue from her recent debut in the Two
Oceans Ultra, and she dropped back, eventually finishing fifth. At 7km, Helalia upped the pace
dramatically to pull well clear of the field, coming home in a new Namibian record time just two
weeks after breaking the Namibian half marathon record at Two Oceans.
“It was my personal best time and it is a new Namibian national record, so I am very pleased,” said
Helalia, adding “The weather was perfect and I enjoyed the course. I decided to go for it at 7km,
because I wanted a PB. My previous best was 32:38, so I am very excited about my new time.”
Kesa was one of four South Africans in the top 10, and said after the race that she was also very
happy with her performance. “I have been concentrating on cross-country running this year, so I was
surprised at how well I ran. I am very happy to have the international runners here, because they
push us, and we will all improve because of them.”
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ISSUE 118 MAY 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za
The first seven runners all finished under 34 minutes, prompting
SPAR Grand Prix coordinator, Ian Laxton, to say, “This is the
fastest women’s 10km race South Africa has seen, and it shows
the depth of talent in Africa.” The first six runners home all
earned an extra 10 SPAR Grand Prix bonus points for beating
last years’ winning time.
Just over 7000 runners took part in the SPAR PE 10km
Challenge and the 5km Fun Run. An even bigger field is
expected to turn out for the second leg of the SPAR Grand
Prix, which will be run in Cape Town on Sunday 26 May,
starting and finishing in Green Point.
T
he 2019 SPAR Women’s Challenge Series and Grand Prix competition got off to a flying start
on Saturday 4 May in Port Elizabeth, with Helalia Johannes winning the 10km race in a very
fast 31:50. Second home in 32:38 was 17-year-old Ethiopian, Tadu Teshome Nare, with last
year’s PE winner Kesa Molotsane claiming third in 33:09.