ROAD RUNNING
Karabo Motsoeneng in action at the at SPAR Grand Prix race in Durban in June
Rising Star
It ’ s been quite some year for rising young athlete Karabao Motsoeneng , both on the track and road , and that has led to her being given extra support by SPAR , sponsors of the SPAR Grand Prix series .
When 19-year-old Karabo Motsoeneng lines up to represent South Africa at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Cali , Colombia this August , she will do so brimming with confidence after a hugely successful 2022 season , initially on the track and more recently in the SPAR Grand Prix women ’ s 10km races on the road .
The foundation of this success was laid in the two preceding years , starting with two second-place finishes in the Under-18 3000m and 5000m events at the 2020 Gauteng North Champs . The following year , Karabo finished second in the Under-20 5000m at the Gauteng North Champs , then placed third in the 5000m at the SA Under-20 Champs , followed by an eighth place in the 5000m at the SA Senior Champs .
In February this year , Karabo won the 3000m event at the Twizza Super School Grand Finale in Roodepoort , then in March finished first in both the 3000m and 5000m events at the Gauteng North Under-20 Champs in Pretoria , clocking PBs in both races – 9:54.15 for 3000m , improving on her 10:00.35 , and 17:18.24 for 5000m , a massive improvement on her previous best of 17:40.53 . She followed those wins up by claiming the national titles in both events at the SA Under-20 Champs in Potchefstroom in April , clocking
10:04.00 in the 3000m and a new PB of 17:06.46 in the 5000m . Later in April , she raced the 5000m at the SA Senior Champs in Cape Town , and finished ninth in another massive PB of 16:39.16 , and in May , at the ACNW Open Meeting in Potchefstroom , she lowered her 3000m PB to 9:31.31 .
On the road , Karabo has also enjoyed great success in 2022 . In just her second 10km race , at the SPAR Grand Prix women ’ s race in Gqeberha in May , she clocked a PB 37:41 to finish second in the junior category . In the second SPAR race in Durban in June , she was once again second junior home , clocking a new PB of 37:22 , and she followed that up with yet another second place finish in the Mbombela leg of the series in July , with a solid 38:35 . In all three races , the junior section was won by Ethiopian Selama Gebre , making Karabo the first South African junior over the line .
A Helping Hand
Karabo ’ s success in running is testament not only to her talent , but also her resilience . She grew up without parents in the Free State , before her running talent brought her to the attention of talent scouts and she was offered a bursary to attend Prestige College in Hammanskraal , just north of Tshwane in Gauteng . The tenacious youngster has thus exploited her running talents to rise above her challenges and build a bright future for herself , and her story of courage ties in with the # iRISE theme of this year ’ s SPAR Women ’ s Virtual Challenge , which celebrates the strong women who rise above challenges through a spirit of perseverance .
For this reason , the organisers of the SPAR Women ’ s Challenge Tshwane decided earlier this year to pledge their support to the young athlete , to assist her in her preparation for competition and in participating in events , including the SPAR Grand Prix races . That has allowed her to travel to Gqeberha , Durban and Mbombela already this year . “ We are proud to be associated with Karabo , who has touched so many that have crossed her path , through her endearing spirit ,” says Retha Ingenbleek , the race organiser of the SPAR Women ’ s Virtual Challenge . “ We believe she will continue her incredible rise with the help of a caring community .”
Karabo , currently busy with her Matric year at school , has thanked SPAR as well as Asics for putting their faith in her abilities , and has pledged to make the best of her opportunities . “ Thank you so much for everything you have given me . I really do appreciate all the things I have received , and I promise to make you guys proud . I am fully committed to working hard to achieve what is best for me and represent you well , and I am proud to say that I am ready to show the world what I was blessed with , a precious talent from God .”
Images : Reg Caldecott & courtesy SPAR Grand Prix
This article is based on a media release by Oxigen Communications and distributed by BLD Communications on behalf of the SPAR Grand Prix and SPAR Women ’ s Virtual Challenge .
26 ISSUE 152 | www . modernathlete . co . za