ADVERTORIAL

Around 70,000 runners are expected to take to the roads of six major cities around South Africa as the SPAR Women ’ s Challenge returns to capacity for the first time since before the COVID pandemic , and exciting changes to the prize money structure adds new incentives for local athletes .

Now in 2023 , the SPAR Women ’ s Challenge will return to its original format and will again be open to thousands of female runners and walkers of all ages and abilities . The popular 5km Fun Run is also back , and will be staged alongside the classic SPAR Women ’ s 10km Challenge , which incorporates the prestigious SPAR Grand Prix .

Former SPAR Grand Prix winner , Kesa Molotsane , is thrilled that the races are once again open to all . “ The SPAR Women ’ s Virtual Challenge was a brilliant idea , but there is nothing quite like a real SPAR Women ’ s Challenge event ,” she says . “ We were very grateful to SPAR that we were able to compete during the pandemic , but I think we all missed the festive atmosphere that always surrounds the SPAR Women ’ s Challenges . I am also looking forward to seeing new , exciting talent that always emerges every year . There may have been runners who couldn ’ t run in the restricted races , but now have the chance to show what they can do .”

In 2023 , the SPAR Women ’ s Challenge races will back to full size .

WELCOME RETURN

SPAR Group ’ s National Sponsorship and Events Manager , Charlene Subbarayan , is also delighted that the SPAR Women ’ s Challenges will once again involve thousands of women . “ SPAR is all about promoting healthy living , and good health means a healthy lifestyle , so what better way than to get everyone out in the open air , training for the SPAR Women ’ s Challenge series ,” she says .

“ The Challenge also offers us a way of thanking our customers , by providing them with a day of fun and entertainment , with plenty of spot prizes at all the races . So , we are so happy that we can once again welcome thousands of women of all ages to our 10km races and 5km fun runs . Our target national entry is 70,000 women in 2023 ,” adds Subbarayan .

Kesa Molotsane was the highest placed South African in the 2022 SPAR Grand Prix .

The President of Athletics South Africa ( ASA ), James Moloi , says the SPAR Women ’ s Challenge series is an important part of the South African athletics calendar . “ Many women get a taste for running after training to take part in these unique women-only races . The SPAR Grand Prix races also offer the elite runners an opportunity to test themselves , and the presence of international athletes , who are drawn to the race by the lucrative prize money , spurs our domestic runners on to improve their times .”

BIGGER INCENTIVES

There are several exciting developments in the SPAR Grand Prix in 2023 . In recent years , the dominance of athletes from Ethiopia and Namibia has made it difficult for the South Africans to earn the top prizes . This year , local athletes will win prizes in addition to the overall prize pool . In the six races , the first two South Africans across the finish line will win R10,000 and R5000 respectively . They are eligible to collect the overall prizes as well , starting at R30,000 for a win , R25,000 for second place and R21,000 for third .

The prize pool for the overall SPAR Grand Prix has been similarly structured . The winner will receive R200,000 , second place R100,000 and the prizes go down to tenth place . This year there will also be a separate ‘ competition within a competition ’ for South African athletes , with the five top local runners taking home a total of R185,000 in addition to the money they win in the overall SPAR Grand Prix . First place amongst local athletes will score a handsome R75,000 . The total prize purse across the SPAR Grand Prix is now R1.9 million , which is 14 % up on 2022 .

Another important change comes in the number of races to count for the final points table . In previous years , the total points scored by an athlete over the six races counted . This , however , placed runners who had to miss one or two races because of international commitments or injury at a disadvantage . This year , a runner ’ s four best performances in the SPAR Grand Prix races will count for points . This means that a runner can miss two races and still be competitive .

FOR MORE INFO , VISIT WWW . SPARWOMENSRACE . CO . ZA OR WWW . SPAR . RUN

12 ISSUE 157 | www . modernathlete . co . za